Research and Development

Reforming the R&D ecosystem for neglected diseases, emerging infectious diseases, and maternal health

The long timelines, high attrition rates, and high costs of global health R&D are impeding the development of new medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics. The Center for Policy Impact in Global Health partnered with colleagues at Open Consultants, the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and Peking University to conduct two studies on reforming the global health R&D ecosystem. The studies focused on product development for neglected diseases, emerging infectious diseases, and maternal health. They explore:

• The potential efficiencies in product development that could be gained from applying artificial intelligence, new clinical trial designs and networks, innovations in manufacturing, regulatory reforms, and new financing mechanisms
• The opportunities and challenges in using monoclonal antibodies and mRNA vaccines in low- and middle-income countries
• The product launches that we are likely to see over the next 20 years, based on what is currently in the R&D pipeline
• The health and economic impact of these launches.

• Gavin Yamey, Center for Policy Impact in Global Health
• Marco Schäferhoff, Open Consultants
• Osondu Ogbuoji, Center for Policy Impact in Global Health
• Armand Zimmerman, Center for Policy Impact in Global Health
• Ayodamope Fawole, Center for Policy Impact in Global Health,
• Ernesto Ortiz, Duke Global Health Institute
• Shingai Machingaidze, Global Health Consultant
• Mosa Moshabela, Vice Chair of Research & Innovation at the University of KwaZulu-Natal
• Ming Xu, Dean of the Department of Global Health at Peking University

This project is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.