title: Infectious disease research investments: systematic analysis of immunology and vaccine research funding in the UK.
abstract: Financing for global health is a critical element of research and development. Innovations in new vaccines are critically dependent on research funding given the large sums required, however estimates of global research investments are lacking. We evaluate infectious disease research investments, focusing on immunology and vaccine research by UK research funding organisations. In 1997-2010, £2.6 billion were spent by public and philanthropic organisations, with £590 million allocated to immunology and vaccine research. Preclinical studies received the largest funding amount £505 million accounting for 85.6% of total investment. In terms of specific infection, "the big three" infections dominated funding: HIV received £127 million (21.5% of total), malaria received £59 million (10.0% of total) and tuberculosis received £36 million (6.0% of total). We excluded industry funding from our analysis, as open-access data were unavailable. A global investment surveillance system is needed to map and monitor funding and guide allocation of scarce resources.
authors.affiliation: King's College School of Medicine, London SE1 9RT, United Kingdom. Electronic address: joseph.fitchett@doctors.org.uk.
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Fitchett
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Head
authors.forename: Rifat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Atun
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends; D002202:Capital Financing / Q000639:trends*; D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000191:economics* / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D012109:Research Support as Topic / Q000639:trends*; D006113:United Kingdom; D014612:Vaccines / Q000191:economics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D014612:Vaccines
keywords: Immunology; Infectious disease; Public health policy; Research and development; Research investments; Vaccine