GAPS
Determining the gaps in the social science field of epidemic preparedness, response and recovery
Objective
This project identifies and synthesizes key knowledge and infrastructure gaps that prevent the integration of social science research into current systems of epidemic preparedness, response and recovery, and ways to bridge them.
Description
During health emergencies such as those caused by Ebola, Zika, or yet to be known pathogens, biomedical and clinical research alone cannot outsmart epidemics. Social science research provides crucial knowledge to understand context, culture, and practices. There is, however, a need to understand how to better support the global research community. This project, funded by the Wellcome Trust and DFID helps to inform the direction of current and future funding priorities to efficiently integrate social science research in epidemic preparedness, response, and recovery programmes.
The project uses a combination of interview and workshop consultations, a scoping literature review and expert feedback to identify social science research gaps and priorities in short, medium, and long term. The report will be part of a larger landscaping exercise that documents work currently existing. The piece will be used by funders to coordinate future funding agendas and it is crucial that Wellcome and the supplier work closely and collaboratively on the project.
Partners
Kevin Bardosh, University of Florida (co-PI)
Darryl Stellmach (MSF and University of Oxford)
Sharon Abramowitz (Unaffiliated)
Adama Thorlie (WHO consultant)
John Kinsman (Umeå University)
Lianne Cremers (Amserdam-UMC)
Tamara Giles-Vernick (SoNAR-Global consortium, Institut Pasteur)
Nina Gobat (GOARN Social Science network, Oxford University).
Funders
Wellcome Trust
DFID
Countries
Global