Landscape Mapping Infectious Diseases by research investment, burden of disease and Research Capability

This strategic project will produce an understanding of the capacity and capability of infectious diseases research in Aotearoa New Zealand including a detailed database of those involved and their specialities and gaps to be filled to ensure the country is best prepared for future pandemics or infectious disease outbreaks. The project will produce a Burden of Disease Index for 25 key diseases, including their cost to the country. The research team will also identify all infectious diseases funding, both from Crown and other sources.

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Principal Investigator
Public Contact
Kim Thomas
teniwhacomms@otago.ac.nz
Project Timeframe/Status
-
Completed

Whakarāpopoto Rangahau Summary of Research

Engagement during development of the Te Niwha research platform indicated a gap of understanding in the landscape of infectious diseases research actors, funding and critical issues that need to be addressed to ensure a successful (and sufficiently informed) grounding.

This Landscape Mapping project consists of three parts:

  • Part 1: Develop a database of key actors (such as agencies, funders, key stakeholders, research groups) within infectious diseases research, including instruments for engagement and data collection (survey).
  • Part 2. Identify currently funded research on infectious diseases in Aotearoa New Zealand. This involves extracting information from government funding bodies, internal funding (such as from universities and Crown Research Institutes) and identifying and approaching NGOs and private sector funders.
  • Part 3. Prepare a discussion paper setting out a range of questions and novel approaches.

The mahi was done by researchers in partnership with a 12-person expert reference group (peer nominated). As a result of the reference group input, the project evolved to include creation of a ‘Burden of Disease Index’ that includes direct costs, indirect costs, health outcomes, disease attributes, social determinants and equity for 25 notifiable diseases.

Critical questions to be answered by the project:

  • Who are all the traditionally defined infectious diseases research actors? What areas of infectious diseases research (biomedical/public health) are prominent? And what are the capability gaps that exist across infectious diseases research fields?
  • What has been the research investment from Crown and private resources into infectious diseases research within the previous 5 years?
  • What are the variables (criteria) that would be most effective when appropriately and accurately attempting to reflect and describe the burden of disease across pathologies in Aotearoa New Zealand?

Te Hiranga a Rangahau Research Impact

The impact of this strategic project will be the provision of:

  • An infectious diseases database of research contributors by name, field of expertise to help identify critical mass on capability and capacity as well as gaps
  • A database of infectious diseases research investment
  • A burden of disease index tool for domestic and international research collaboration and project development.

 

The Landscape Map will become an enduring tool for understanding the scope and capacity of Aotearoa New Zealand’s infectious disease research sector in the short term as well as in future.

For the second stage of the Landscape Mapping project:
COVID-19 Equity Response Synthesis (for proactive evaluation and gap analysis)

read more

Te Niwha

Kairangahau Research Personnel

Dr Tom Love
Sapere
Project Lead

Tammy Hambling
Sapere
Managing Consultant

Michael Young
Sapere
Senior Managing Economist

Daniel Watt
Sapere
Senior Consultant

Kelvin Woock
Sapere
Senior Consultant