STRATEGIC AND DISCOVERY RESEARCH (SDR)

SDR Workplans

129Kb

PDF files can be viewed, printed or downloaded using Adobe Acrobat Reader

Rationale

Despite significant, global efforts over the last 50 years, communicable diseases continue to obstruct social and economic development in developing countries, and disproportionately affect the poorest and most marginalized populations. A better understanding of how social, behavioural, political, economic and health systems factors operate to affect disease patterns and disease control efforts will be important for identifying future needs, opportunities and innovations for improved control of TDR diseases (African trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease, dengue, lymphatic filariasis, leishmaniasis, leprosy, malaria, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, tuberculosis).

From the beginning, TDR has recognized the importance of social science research for communicable disease control. From 1979-1994, TDR supported social science research through its Steering Committee on Social and Economic Research (SER). After 1994, some of the work begun under SER continued to be supported by the Applied Field Research (AFR) task forces. 

In June 1999, the TDR Joint Coordinating Board (JCB) approved the creation of a new Steering Committee on Strategic Social, Economic and Behavioural Research (SEB). SEB is located within the Strategic and Discovery Research unit (SDR) to reflect its focus on addressing basic social, economic and behavioural research on issues of trans-disease and global importance.

A Scientific Working Group (SWG) of experts from a range of social, economic and policy sciences met in Geneva from 31 May to 2 June 2000 to set the overall direction for SEB and identify priority areas for research for the period 2000-2005 (http://www.who.int/tdr/publications/publications/seb.htm). The SWG strongly recommended that the SEB Steering Committee (SC) focus on promoting and supporting basic/strategic research that:

• increases understanding of the role and importance of social, economic and behavioural factors for the prevention and control of neglected, infectious diseases;

• addresses issues of multi/trans-disease and global importance;

• contributes to identifying needs, opportunities and innovations for improved disease control and prevention;

• contributes to and supports the overall goals and objectives of TDR. 

The first SC meeting for SEB took place in Geneva, 25-28 September 2000, and SC members agreed that the following principles and concerns would guide its future work: 

• globally, infectious and parasitic diseases remain major contributors to morbidity and mortality, and disproportionately affect populations living in poverty;

• in most instances, social, political and economic inequalities are central to the persistence and spread of these diseases; 

• in most cases, the performance of health systems in protecting vulnerable populations from the impact of these diseases falls far short of potential. 

These issues need to be examined within the context of globalization, the changing role of the state, and the emerging role of non-state actors (the private sector, nongovernmental organizations [NGOs], civil society).

Search - Site Map - Databases - Staff - Contact Us - Feedback - News
WHO Home - WHO Search  - TDR Home
(c) WHO/TDR 2004