Mapping pneumonia research: A systematic analysis of UK investments and published outputs 1997-2013.
BACKGROUND
The burden of pneumonia continues to be substantial, particularly among the poorest in global society. We describe here the trends for UK pneumonia R&D investment and published outputs, and correlate with 2013 global mortality.


METHODS
Data related to awards to UK institutions for pneumonia research from 1997 to 2013 were systematically sourced and categorised by disease area and type of science. Investment was compared to mortality figures in 2010 and 2013 for pneumonia, tuberculosis and influenza. Investment was also compared to publication data.


RESULTS
Of all infectious disease research between 2011 and 2013 (£917.0 million), £28.8 million (3.1%) was for pneumonia. This was an absolute and proportionate increase from previous time periods. Translational pneumonia research (33.3%) received increased funding compared with 1997-2010 where funding was almost entirely preclinical (87.5%, here 30.9%), but high-burden areas such as paediatrics, elderly care and antimicrobial resistance received little investment. Annual investment remains volatile; publication temporal trends show a consistent increase. When comparing investment to global burden with a novel 'investment by mortality observed' metric, tuberculosis (£48.36) and influenza (£484.21) receive relatively more funding than pneumonia (£43.08), despite investment for pneumonia greatly increasing in 2013 compared to 2010 (£7.39). Limitations include a lack of private sector data and the need for careful interpretation of the comparisons with burden, plus categorisation is subjective.


CONCLUSIONS
There has been a welcome increase for pneumonia funding awarded to UK institutions in 2011-2013 compared with 1997-2010, along with increases for more translational research. Published outputs relating to pneumonia rose steadily from 1997 to 2013. Investment relative to mortality for pneumonia has increased, but it remains low compared to other respiratory infections and clear inequities remain. Analyses that measure investments in pneumonia can provide an insight into funding trends and research gaps.


BACKGROUND
Pneumonia continues to be a high-burden illness around the globe. This paper shows that although research funding is increasing in the UK (between 1997 and 2013), it remains poorly funded compared to other important respiratory infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and influenza. Publications about pneumonia have been steadily increasing over time, indicating continuing academic and clinical interest in the topic. Though global mortality of pneumonia is declining, it should still be an area of high priority for funders, policymakers and researchers.
University College London, Farr Institution for Health Informatics, 222 Euston Road, London NW1 2DA, United Kingdom.
Michael G
MG
Head
Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK ; Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Joseph R
JR
Fitchett
Faculty of Medicine and Institute of Life Sciences and Global Health Research Institute, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
Marie-Louise
ML
Newell
Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, LSHTM, Keppel St, WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom ; Epidemiology and Demography Department, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya.
J Anthony G
JA
Scott
University of Cambridge, MRC Cancer Unit, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Jennifer N
JN
Harris
Faculty of Medicine and Institute of Life Sciences and Global Health Research Institute, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom ; University of Southampton Malaysia Campus, Nusajaya, Malaysia ; Southampton NIHR Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit, University Hospital Southampton Foundation NHS Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom.
Stuart C
SC
Clarke
Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, USA.
Rifat
R
Atun
D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D007449:Investments; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000191:economics* / Q000401:mortality; D011642:Publications; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D006113:United Kingdom
Bibliometrics; Financing; Investments; Pneumococcal; Pneumonia; Policy; Publications