Social Sciences
Chair: TBC
Vice Chair: TBC
Collaboration on connected funding opportunities has resulted in a strong global network of social science researchers – such as SoNAR-Global, the Social Science in Humanitarian Action Platform (SSHAP), and the Global 1 Health Network. These existing networks were able to quickly pivot their research and activities to address the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Deliverables
- Our working group supported the launch of the UN Research Roadmap for the COVID-19 Recovery (2020).
- We contributed to the BMC Medicine Commentary Ending COVID-19: progress and gaps in research – highlights of the July 2020 GloPID-R COVID-19 Research Synergies Meetings (2020).
- We played an active part in the WHO/GloPID-R meeting that led to the publication of A Coordinated Global Research Roadmap: 2019 Novel Coronavirus including a section on social sciences in the outbreak response (March 2020).
- We commissioned and published the report “Towards people-centered epidemic preparedness and response: from knowledge to action”, which includes 38 recommendations for funders on how to address knowledge, infrastructure and investment gaps in epidemic social sciences (2019).
background
Social science research provides valuable insights into how infectious diseases emerge, are transmitted and spread. However, the social sciences are not always integrated into infectious disease research and they are often overlooked in preparing and responding to infectious disease outbreaks.
Created in 2018, this group met through the end of 2020 under the leadership of Chair Steven J. Hoffman (CIHR) and Vice Chair João Rangel de Almeida (Wellcome Trust). Its work was suspended in 2021, and a renewal of this working group is planned in line with GloPID-R’s strategic priorities. Based on the GloPID-R Scientific Advisory Group Recommendations & Considerations 2021-2023, a future Social Sciences Working Group could focus on:
- internal and external advocacy for interdisciplinary and social science research;
- creating an environment, and resources, which facilitate social science research investments including coordinated funding opportunities;
- building and sustaining a community of social science champions; and
- ensuring social sciences research is equity-focused and inclusive of the perspectives and priorities of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and communities facing marginalization.
Participating organizations
Going forward, GloPID-R intends to expand membership to include explicit outreach to social sciences and interdisciplinary funders, with a focus on research funders from LMICs. The group would also like to welcome observer organizations representing organizations such as the WHO and other organizations which may not yet be members of GloPID-R.
From 2018 to 2021, the following organizations participated in the working group.
African Academy of Sciences
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
European Commission (EC)
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
South African Medical Research Council (SA MRC)
UK Health Foundation
UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
Wellcome Trust