Initiative Overview
- Project Director: Suerie Moon
- Project Manager: Iulia Slovenski
- Contributors: Bétina Zago
- Project owner: the Global Health Centre, Geneva Graduate Institute and Uniting Efforts for Innovation, Access and Delivery
- Project status: Ongoing
- Funders: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- For more information, visit UNDP's Uniting Efforts website and our Knowledge Portal's Database of Alternative R&D Initiatives
Description
Pharmaceutical innovation for global health stands at a crucial juncture, driven by past successes and new challenges. Over the past two decades, intensified focus on neglected disease research and development (R&D) has led to the development of numerous new products through innovative approaches, such as public-private product development partnerships. Entrepreneurial practitioners have also developed other alternative innovation models for unmet health needs, such as for antibiotics, pandemic preparedness and rare diseases. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis, governments worldwide have recognised the strategic importance of pharmaceutical R&D for public and global health, prompting many to strengthen their domestic innovative capacities. Furthermore, as low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) advance technologically and economically and develop their capacity for R&D, there is growing interest in reducing vulnerabilities stemming from reliance on innovative and industrial capacities in high-income countries (HICs).
This context presents an opportunity to leverage experiences from global health R&D to address broader health challenges, especially in LMICs where disease burdens are high. Practitioners' experiences in financing, R&D, regulatory approval, manufacturing, intellectual property management, and data sharing could inform approaches and policies better for global health. However, the global health R&D community remains fragmented and faces common challenges that could be mitigated through strengthened collaboration, ultimately enhancing pharmaceutical innovation and contributing to universal health coverage (UHC) and greater equity.
Expected Results
The objective of the project is to establish the foundations of a vibrant community of practice (CoP) of pharmaceutical R&D for global health, based on a shared purpose, relationship- and network-building, and exchange of knowledge and other resources. The project seeks to strengthen the collective capacity of practitioners and stakeholders involved in global health R&D to contribute to achieving UHC by delivering health innovation that benefits all, and particularly neglected populations in underserved regions.
