Outputs and expenditures on health research in eight disease areas using a bibliometric approach, 1996-2001

Abstract

Research outputs were identified and analysed, then multiplied by the estimated cost per paper. The method, developed originally for malaria research, gave a more realistic estimate of global research expenditures than previous attempts based on summation of the research budgets of individual funders. Overall support for the different disease areas varied greatly; cardiovascular and mental health research attracts far more funding than malaria and dengue. In relation to the estimated disease burden in 2001, the highest ratio was for diabetes and lowest for tuberculosis, lower respiratory infections and malaria. These are much lower than the ratios for many common non-communicable diseases. Overall, the US National Institutes of Health and its individual component institutes were the highest spenders, but in some areas the big pharmaceutical companies spent more.