Social Sciences

• Our working group supported the launch of the UN Research Roadmap for the COVID-19 Recovery (2020).
• We contributed to the BMC Medicine Commentary Ending COVID-19: progress and gaps in research – highlights of the July 2020 GloPID-R COVID-19 Research Synergies Meetings (2020).
• We played an active part in the WHO/GloPID-R meeting that led to the publication of  A Coordinated Global Research Roadmap: 2019 Novel Coronavirus including a section on social sciences in the outbreak response (March 2020).
• We commissioned and published the report “Towards people-centered epidemic preparedness and response: from knowledge to action”, which includes 38 recommendations for funders on how to address knowledge, infrastructure and investment gaps in epidemic social sciences (2019).

• Raise awareness for the need to invest and incorporate social science research into infectious disease research
• Showcase the value of social science research to internal and external stakeholders
• Promote and coordinate international social science research investments, identifying opportunities for joint action, and support those interested in investing

Social science research provides valuable insights into how infectious diseases emerge, are transmitted and spread. However, the social sciences are not always integrated into infectious disease research and they are often overlooked in preparing and responding to infectious disease outbreaks.

Created in 2018, this group met through the end of 2020 under the leadership of Chair Steven J. Hoffman (CIHR) and Vice Chair João Rangel de Almeida (Wellcome Trust). Its work was suspended in 2021, and a renewal of this working group is planned in line with GloPID-R’s strategic priorities. Based on the GloPID-R Scientific Advisory Group Recommendations & Considerations 2021-2023, a future Social Sciences Working Group could focus on:

• internal and external advocacy for interdisciplinary and social science research;
• creating an environment, and resources, which facilitate social science research investments including coordinated funding opportunities;
• building and sustaining a community of social science champions; and
• ensuring social sciences research is equity-focused and inclusive of the perspectives and priorities of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and communities facing marginalization.

Going forward, GloPID-R intends to expand membership to include explicit outreach to social sciences and interdisciplinary funders, with a focus on research funders from LMICs. The group would also like to welcome observer organizations representing organizations such as the WHO and other organizations which may not yet be members of GloPID-R.

From 2018 to 2021, the following organizations participated in the working group.

• African Academy of Sciences
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
• European Commission (EC)
• Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
• South African Medical Research Council (SA MRC)
• UK Health Foundation
• UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
• Wellcome Trust