A living mapping review for COVID-19 funded research projects: 21 month update

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in an unprecedented research response, demonstrating exceptional examples of rapid research and collaboration. There has however been an ongoing need for greater coordination, with limited resources for research and the shifting global pandemic. Methods: The UK Collaborative on Development Research (UKCDR) and Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness (GloPID-R), two funder coordination groups have collaborated to develop a live database of funded research projects across the world relating to COVID-19. Drawing data continually from their members and further global funding bodies, as of 15th April 2022 the database contains 16,353 projects, funded by 319 funders, taking place across 157 countries representing an investment of at least $6.2 billion. To our knowledge it is one of the most comprehensive databases. The database is aligned to the World Health Organisation and GloPID-R Global Research Roadmap: 2019 Novel Coronavirus and the UN Research Roadmap for the COVID-19 Recovery. It is being used by the WHO, governments and further policy makers, research funders and researchers. This living mapping review aims to supplement the database by providing an open accessible and frequently updated resource summarising the characteristics of the COVID-19 funded research portfolio. Both descriptive and thematic analysis are presented and updated frequently to aid interpretation of the global COVID-19 funded research portfolio. Results: In this version eight analysis we provide an updated detailed descriptive analysis of the database (on data from three months after version seven) and focus our thematic analysis on research gaps, research areas in need of coordination, study populations and research locations (with a focus on resource-limited countries). Conclusions: As the global funding response to COVID-19 plateaus, this living mapping review helps both funders and researchers to prioritise resources to areas where there is continued unmet research need.

Mapping regional funding for COVID-19 research in the Asia-Pacific region

“…The UN Research Roadmap, published in November 2020, complements the WHO Roadmap, providing longer-term priorities relevant for the recovery from COVID-19 29. Mapping of the globally funded COVID-19 projects to this roadmap has shown some research projects funded were focused on effective recovery in the postpandemic period 13…”

“…An online search of the WHO COVID-19 resources webpage was undertaken on 22 September 2022 to identify research funding tracking databases. Five databases were identified and included in the analysis: Universities Allied for Essential Medicines COVID Mapping,20 OECD Global Science Forum,21 Policy Cures R&D Tracker,22 UKCDR & GloPID-R COVID-19 Research Projects Tracker23 and the COVID-NMA initiative 24 Online supplemental file 1. summarises these datasets and their characteristics.…”

“…In February 2020 WHO partnered with the Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness (GloPID-R), a collaboration of funders of research on emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases of epidemic and pandemic potential, to identify global COVID-19 research priorities 11 12. Following this, GloPID-R and UK Collaborative on Development Research (UKCDR) developed the UKCDR and GloPID-R COVID-19 Research Project Tracker 13. This is a live database of globally funded COVID-19 research across multiple disciplines and research funders.…”

“…This is a live database of globally funded COVID-19 research across multiple disciplines and research funders. All projects in the database are mapped to the WHO research priority areas and regular analyses show the scope of funded COVID-19 research globally 13. As of 15 July 2022, a total of 17 995 COVID-19 research projects had been funded by 345 funders with at least US$6.5bn invested in research 13.…”

“…All projects in the database are mapped to the WHO research priority areas and regular analyses show the scope of funded COVID-19 research globally 13. As of 15 July 2022, a total of 17 995 COVID-19 research projects had been funded by 345 funders with at least US$6.5bn invested in research 13. Other global efforts tracking COVID-19 research efforts include World Report, COVID NMA initiative, Policy Cures R&D Tracker etc 14–16…”