Scientific peer-reviewed publications

Scientific (peer-reviewed) publications relevant to the Observatory

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.