The United States, in its role as the world's leading investor in science and research, is uniquely positioned to also lead in research that can improve health globally.
To understand the current investment in global health research, Research!America tracks how much the public and private sectors in the U.S. invest in research on diseases and conditions that primarily affect poor populations in low- and middle-income countries.
In 2005, with initial support from the Ellison Medical Foundation, Research!America prepared the first known estimate of U.S. investment in global health research, based on data from 2003. With current support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, we continue to track investment in global health research, and in our most recent report we analyze data from 2006.
We estimate that the U.S. spent approximately $9.3 billion on global health research in 2006. This represents 8% of the total investment ($116 billion) made by private and public entities in health research overall.
2006 U.S. Investment in Global Health Research
2003 U.S. Investment in Global Health Research
Global Forum for Health Research Publications
In 2005, Research!America was invited by the Global Forum for Health Research to publish and present the results of our global health work.
"United States Investment in Global Health Research," an article in the annual publication of the Global Forum for Health Research, Global Forum Update on Research for Health: Poverty, Equity and Health Research, Vol. 2, 2005; written by Mary Woolley, Stacie M. Propst, PhD, and Emily Connelly. September 2005
"U.S. Public Attitudes on Investment in Research to Improve Health at Home and Worldwide," a presentation by Mary Woolley at the Global Forum for Health Research 9 in Mumbai, India, September 15, 2005.
