Global report for research on infectious diseases of poverty.

Geneva, Switzerland : TDR/World Health Organization, [2012]

Geneva, Switzerland : WHO Document Production Services

vii, 168 pages : color illustrations ; 30 cm

"With financial support of European Union, World Health Organization, TDR."

Includes bibliographical references.

1. Why research infectious diseases of poverty? -- Poverty and infectious disease : a problematic relationship -- Infectious disease : the true burden on communities -- The value of research : new ways to end old diseases -- Poverty, infectious disease and policy : moving beyond the Millennium Development Goals -- The cost of inaction : social and economic consequences -- Tackling disease : a need for investment -- Ten reasons to research infectious diseases of poverty -- 1. Break the vicious cycle of poverty and infectious disease -- 2. Forge an escape for the poor and vulnerable -- 3. Tackle multiple problems -- 4. Commute the life sentence -- 5. Be prepared : forewarned is forearmed -- 6. Reach the hardest to reach -- 7. Prevent loss in translation -- 8. Identify small changes that can make a big difference -- 9. Stay focused on the light at the end of the tunnel -- 10. Act quickly on what we know -- Under the lens -- 2. Environment, Climate Change, Social Factors and the implications for Controlling infectious diseases of poverty -- Understanding the microbial world : the inescapable starting point -- Drug and insecticide resistance : magic bullets will not suffice -- Climate change : not entirely to blame -- Deforestation : cutting the branch we sit on -- Urbanization : is wealthier always healthier? -- Agriculture : also sowing seeds of sickness -- Hunger and malnutrition : getting the right food to the right table -- Conflict : another man-made disaster, amplifying infectious disease -- Migration and globalization : disease, a worldwide traveller -- Infectious diseases, the environment and poverty : a time bomb in the making? -- Approaches for future research : three tracks to explore -- Better understanding of the microbial world -- Expand and better utilize existing data and resources -- "One World, One Health" -- Conclusion: a big picture requiring intelligent investment and interaction -- 3. Health Systems -- Understanding the relationship between health systems and diseases control programmes and the role of health systems research -- Leadership and governance : getting a grip on things -- Financing : the right level at the right time and place -- Human resources for health : caring comes from people -- Medicines and technology : an essential combination -- Health information and health infrastructure : good data clear the path -- Communities and health systems : people make the difference -- Infectious diseases, poverty, health systems and health systems research : bringing it all together -- Developing the interface between health system components and infectious disease control programmes : the missing link -- Developing systemic approaches -- Strengthening research capacity for a positive interrelation between disease control programmes and the rest of the health system -- Conclusions : from dependence to ownership -- 4. Innovation and new technologies to tackle infectious diseases of poverty -- Understanding the health innovation system : navigating unchartered waters -- Global initiatives to encourage innovation : turbo-charging -- Funding for innovation : Food for brains -- Priority setting for health R&D : where to start? -- Policy environments in developing countries : more than scaffolding required -- Public-private product development partnerships : the fast-track alliance -- Social innovations : science on its own is not enough -- Overcoming social and cultural barriers : getting communities involved -- Building capacity : incubating entrepreneurship -- Ethics, innovation and infectious disease -- A three-step approach to future research -- New models of sharing and delivery : thinking out of the box -- Building networks and an innovation platform : tying knots that will hold -- Innovating for "One World, One Health" : one phrase says it all -- Conclusion : innovate or fail -- 5. Research and development funding for infectious diseases of poverty : from landscape to architecture -- What are the issues at stake? -- The big picture: current funding landscape and some recent trends -- A complex landscape -- Unmet targets -- Balancing funds and needs -- Contradictory trends -- Implementation research funding : the poor relative -- The role of product development partnerships: can success be maintained? -- A more detailed picture of funding of R&D for infectious diseases of poverty -- What is the trend for R&D funding? -- Who is funding R&D? -- How are funds being channelled? -- How are R&D funds allocated? -- Which diseases is funding focused on? -- What type of research is funded? -- Who is being funded? -- Promising trends -- Drivers of research funding flows for infectious diseases of poverty : what do the funders say? -- Future trends in the funding landscape -- Key challenges in funding R&D -- Making the "right type" of R&D investments -- Avoiding wastage -- Capacity building -- Strengthening the data reservoir to help decision-making on funding flows -- What would the future funding architecture look like? -- 6. Agenda for action -- Setting the scene for action -- The call to action -- Option 1: Create and use a new index of infectious diseases of poverty to serve as a surrogate marker of national socioeconomic development -- Option 2: Implement a "One Health, One World" strategy in relation to research for infectious diseases of poverty -- Option 3: Actively promote research ownership with enabling policies by disease endemic countries -- Option 4: Create an innovation platform to foster a culture of innovation to benefit public health -- Option 5: Create an online global platform of research resources to inform on strategies, policies and funding commitments.