Center for Global Health R&D Policy Assessment

On the evening of May 17th in Geneva, three prominent global health organizations announced their intention to develop a new PDP funding mechanism to support R&D for neglected diseases. The core proponents – The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, the George Institute for International Health, and Novartis – are calling this new idea the PDP+ Fund.

I watched the panel session live on webcast. A number of panelists including Hannah Kettler (Gates Foundation), Holly Wong (IAVI), Mary Moran (The George Institute), and Paul Herrling (Novartis) shared their views on the need for more R&D for neglected diseases and put this new idea on the table.

While there were few details about the PDP+Fund, it was certainly intriguing to see several organizations – each of whom had, at one point or another, advocated for their own idea – announce their intention to merge their individual ideas into one mega-proposal. The hypothesis seems to be that taking the “best of each proposal” approach will lead to a more effective, more efficient and more complete solution to the problems of PDP funding. (Visit our Policy Innovations page to learn more about the proposals).

Watching the event reminded me in what a state of constant change R&D policy continues to be. Ideas are emerging, ideas are being spun off, ideas are merging (and not too many are dying). This creates a somewhat confusing environment for funders, policymakers … and frankly the rest of us, too.

In her remarks, Hannah Kettler reflected on how the PDP+ Fund highlights the importance of getting more information to funders. As ideas emerge and morph, funders are left to make decisions about which proposals to support, without a lot of deep analysis. This is our project’s goal at the Center for Global Health R&D Policy Assessment – to provide objective, thorough and neutral assessments of policy ideas so that the good ones flourish and the not-so-good ideas fade into the sunset. By assessing these R&D policy proposals, we hope to help funders – private and governmental– make smart bets.

It remains to be seen how the PDP+ Fund will unfold. Truth be told, there were more questions than answers at the May 17th event. What problem will the new PDP+Fund actually solve? What will the fund fund? What is the governance structure? Will donors really participate? How centralized will the decision-making be? The myriad of questions raised at the event leave the sponsoring organizations with a lot of homework to do.

Our team is watching the development of the PDP+ Fund with interest. In fact, one of our first assessments will focus on these pooled funding mechanisms and their potential to accelerate R&D for diseases of the poor. Watch this website over the coming months to learn more about our findings and related events. Meanwhile, feel free to email me at kreott@resultsfordevelopment.org.