Publications relating to health R&D
Scientific (peer-reviewed) publications relevant to the Observatory
The Observatory as a Global platform to coordinate priority setting for health R&D
- Global platform to inform investments for health R&D
Kieny MP, Viergever RF, Adam T, Boerma T, Røttingen JA. Lancet. 2016;387:1157.
Letter in the Lancet introducing the Observatory as an openly available data platform that aims to collate, monitor, and analyse information about health R&D.
Health research priority setting
- Methods with a focus on health R&D
Publications on priority setting methods, exercises and evaluations can be found in the Methods section of the Observatory
Mapping health R&D
- Mapping of available health research and development data: what's there, what's missing, and what role is there for a global observatory?
Røttingen JA, Regmi S, Eide M, Young AJ, Viergever RF, Ardal C et al. Lancet. 2013;382:1286-307.
This article provides an overview of data sources that can be used to map health R&D activities globally. The article also discusses the potential role of a Global Observatory on Health R&D in addressing these gaps and describes the envisioned functions of the Observatory.
Using data from registered clinical trials to identify gaps in health R&D
- The drug and vaccine landscape for neglected diseases (2000-11): a systematic assessment.
Pedrique B, Strub-Wourgaft N, Some C, Olliaro P, Trouiller P, Ford N, Pécoul B, Bradol JH. Lancet Glob Health. 2013;1:e371-9.
This paper provides an assessment of how data from registered clinical trials might be used as part of the Global Observatory on Health R&D. It provides examples of the types of analyses that can be conducted using these data and lists the benefits and challenges of using these data. - Use of data from registered clinical trials to identify gaps in health research and development.
Viergever RF, Terry RF, Karam G. Bull World Health Organ. 2013;91:416-425C.
In this paper the authors look at how data from the World Health Organization’s International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) can be used to explore the current global landscape of health R&D and identify R&D gaps.
Mapping investments
- Mapping global health research investments, time for new thinking - A Babel Fish for research data
Terry RF, Allen L, Gardner CA, Guzman J, Moran M, Viergever RF. Health Res Policy Syst. 2012;10:28.
This article discusses the need for accurate information on health R&D funding flows, and the difficulties associated with collating this information. It identifies the use of diverse classification systems and nomenclatures by funding organizations of health R&D as one cause of these difficulties, and proposes a translation approach for addressing this challenge.
Collecting and comparing data on countries’ health R&D expenditures
- Global trends in health research and development expenditures – the challenge of making reliable estimates for international comparison
Young AJ, Terry RF, Røttingen JA, Viergever RF. Health Res Policy Syst. 2015;13:7.
This article outlines the steps involved with making estimates of trends in countries’ expenditures on health R&D, describes the current challenges in making such estimates, and proposes a way forward to address those challenges.
Establishing a Global Observatory on Health R&D
- Creating a global observatory for health R&D
Terry RF, Salm JF Jr, Nannei C, Dye C. Science. 2014;345:1302-4.
This article sets out the case for establishing the Global Observatory on Health R&D and lists the main challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in its establishment.
The drug and vaccine development landscape for neglected diseases
- Drug development for neglected diseases: a deficient market and a public-health policy failure
Trouiller P, Olliaro P, Torreele E, Orbinski J, Laing R, Ford N. Lancet. 2002;359:2188-94.
In this study the authors analysed the outcomes of pharmaceutical R&D over the previous 25 years. They also reviewed a number of public and private initiatives that aim to address the R&D needs for diseases that occur predominantly in the developing world.