30/03/2016
GloPID-R Publishes First Study on Improvement of Rapid Research Response
The GloPID-R study Connecting and Mapping: Exploring the capacities, capabilities, and barriers to a rapid response to outbreaks among funders and research networks is the first to provide insight on how rapid research response efforts can be improved based on both funders’ and researchers’ perspectives.
The study was conducted by the ISARIC’s Coordinating Centre in conjunction with their role in GloPID-R’s Secretariat through the University of Oxford, and ISARIC and PREPARE investigators at University College Dublin. The Connecting and Mapping Study encompasses a Capacities and Capabilities Survey of 33 research networks in over 110 different countries, a political, ethical, administrative, regulatory, logistical, economic, and social (PEARLES) Barriers Survey on bottlenecks to rapid outbreak response, and a Funders Survey of 21 funding organisations from 15 countries.
Utilising mixed methods, this project was divided into two parts, where the first (Part I) was a quantitative study based on the dissemination of surveys, and the second (Part II) utilised qualitative methods to explore issues raised in Part I in greater detail by analysing three case studies on research projects undertaken during the West African Ebola outbreak.
The study’s main findings
- While research capacity and capability exist in networks, early funding is required to mobilise in an epidemic.
- Research responses should be integrated into routine clinical care.
- Partnerships with local researchers should be facilitated prior to outbreaks.
- Capacity building in LMICs should be integrated into response efforts.
- Pre-established collaboration between academic and non-academic partners would limit delays to the response.
- Triggers’ for accelerated responses need to be identified and agreed in advance.
- Emergency procedure protocols for funding initiatives should be trialled.
