Countries around the world are grappling with the social, economic and health repercussions of COVID-19. The need for solutions that are equitable, resilient, and sustainable has resulted in an unprecedented research response.
In November 2020, the United Nations released the UN Roadmap for the COVID-19 Recovery to coordinate and inspire global investments in research that supports a science-based recovery from the pandemic. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) led the development of the Roadmap with 37 other funding agencies in Canada and other countries.
To help monitor the funding of research linked to priorities in the Roadmap, the UK Collaborative on Development Research (UKCDR) and the Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness (GloPID-R) are using the COVID-19 Research Project Tracker. The team who manages this project continually monitors funding activities and publishes quarterly updates in the form of a Living Mapping Review. The most recent update published in Wellcome Open Research revealsthat so far more than US$800 million has been invested in nearly 4,000 research projects that align to the 25 research priorities outlined in the Roadmap. This total includes 437 projects funded by Canadian agencies for a total of more than US$80.9 million.
Earlier this year, to further strengthen Canada's research capability, the Government of Canada announced the creation of the Centre for Research on Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies. The Research Centre, which is housed within CIHR, collaborates with other federal departments and agencies, as well as stakeholders domestically and internationally.
CIHR and its partners will support two new research initiatives that align with the Roadmap: a $20M investment in Women RISE: Research to support women's health and economic empowerment for an equitable COVID-19 recovery, led by Canada's International Development Research Centre; and a $24 million investment in a New Frontiers in Research Fund 2022 Special Call: Research for Postpandemic Recovery.
