Unequal Distribution of Innovation Efforts for Neglected Tropical Diseases: The Role of Funding Evaluation Criteria

Background: International research and innovation efforts for neglected tropical diseases have increased in recent decades due to disparities in overall health research funding in relation to global burden of disease. However, within the field of neglected tropical diseases some seem far more neglected than others. In this research the aim is to investigate the distribution of resources and efforts, as well as the mechanisms that underpin funding allocation for neglected tropical diseases. Methodology: A systematic literature review was conducted to establish a comprehensive overview of known indicators for innovation efforts related to a wide range of neglected tropical diseases. Articles were selected based on a subjective evaluation of their relevance, the presence of original data, and the breadth of their scope. This was followed by thirteen in-depth open-ended interviews with representatives of private, public and philanthropic funding organizations, concerning evaluation criteria for funding research proposals. Results: The findings reveal a large difference in the extent to which the individual diseases are neglected with notable differences between absolute and relative efforts. Criteria used in the evaluation of research proposals relate to potential impact, the probability of success and strategic fit. Private organizations prioritize strategic fit and economic impact;philanthropic organizations prioritize short-term societal impact;and public generally prioritize the probability of success by accounting for follow-up funding and involvement of industry. Funding decisions of different types of organizations are highly interrelated. Conclusions: This study shows that the evaluation of funding proposals introduces and retains unequal funding distribution, reinforcing the relative neglect of diseases. Societal impact is the primary rationale for funding but application of it as a funding criterion is associated with significant challenges. Furthermore, current application of evaluation criteria leads to a primary focus on short-term impact. Through current practice, the relatively most neglected diseases will remain so, and a long-term strategy is needed to resolve this.

Research funding and citations in papers of Nobel Laureates in Physics, Chemistry and Medicine, 2019-2020

Purpose:The goal of this study is a comparative analysis of the relation between funding(a main driver for scientific research)and citations in papers of Nobel Laureates in physics,chemistry and medicine over 2019-2020 and the same relation in these research fields as a whole.Design/methodology/approach:This study utilizes a power law model to explore the relationship between research funding and citations of related papers.The study here analyzes 3,539 recorded documents by Nobel Laureates in physics,chemistry and medicine and a broader dataset of 183,016 documents related to the fields of physics,medicine,and chemistry recorded in the Web of Science database.Findings:Results reveal that in chemistry and medicine,funded researches published in papers of Nobel Laureates have higher citations than unfunded studies published in articles;vice versa high citations of Nobel Laureates in physics are for unfunded studies published in papers.Instead,when overall data of publications and citations in physics,chemistry and medicine are analyzed,all papers based on funded researches show higher citations than unfunded ones.Originality/value:Results clarify the driving role of research funding for science diffusion that are systematized in general properties:a)articles concerning funded researches receive more citations than(un)funded studies published in papers of physics,chemistry and medicine sciences,generating a high Matthew effect(a higher growth of citations with the increase in the number of papers);b)research funding increases the citations of articles in fields oriented to applied research(e.g.,chemistry and medicine)more than fields oriented towards basic research(e.g.,physics).Practical implications:The results here explain some characteristics of scientific development and diffusion,highlighting the critical role of research funding in fostering citations and the expansion of scientific knowledge.This finding can support decision-making of policymakers and R&D managers to improve the effectiveness in allocating financial resources in science policies to generate a higher positive scientific and societal impact.

The relation between funding by the National Institutes of Health and the burden of disease

Background:The Institute of Medicine has proposed that the amount of disease-specific research funding provided by the National Institutes of Health(NIH)be systematically and consistently compared with the burden of disease for society.Methods:We performed a cross-sectional study comparing estimates of disease-specific funding in 1996 with data on six measures of the burden of disease.

The relation between funding by the National Institutes of Health and the burden of disease

Background:The Institute of Medicine has proposed that the amount of disease-specific research funding provided by the National Institutes of Health(NIH)be systematically and consistently compared with the burden of disease for society.Methods:We performed a cross-sectional study comparing estimates of disease-specific funding in 1996 with data on six measures of the burden of disease.The measures were total mortality,years of life lost,and number of hospital days in 1994 and incidence,prevalence,and disability-adjusted life-years(one disability-adjusted life-year is defined as the loss of one year of healthy life to disease)in 1990.With the use of these measures as explanatory variables in a regression analysis,predicted funding was calculated and compared with actual funding.

Strategies for Cultivating Public Funded Targeted Normal Students Based on Goal Management Theory : A Case Study of East, West and North Guangdong

Public funded targeted normal students are an important component of China's teacher team construction.Since its implementation in 2007,a large number of outstanding rural teachers who have been striving on the front line of education have been trained.Based on the theory of goal management,this paper explores the problems and countermeasures in the training of public funded targeted normal students.It strives to solve the problems of low willingness to teach and high default rates among public funded normal students,and hopes that the suggestions proposed in this paper can further promote the effective implementation of policies for public funded normal students.

Aortic Dissection Research in China:Analysis of Studies Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China

Objective The National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)has made great progress in promoting the development of aortic dissection research in recent years.This study aimed to examine the development and research status of aortic dissection research in China so as to provide references for future research.Methods The NSFC projects data from 2008 to 2019 were collected from the Internet-based Science Information System and other websites utilized as search engines.The publications and citations were retrieved by Google Scholar,and the impact factors were checked by the InCite Journal Citation Reports database.The investigator’s degree and department were identified from the institutional faculty profiles.Results A total of 250 grant funds totaling 124.3 million Yuan and resulting in 747 publications were analyzed.The funds in economically developed and densely populated areas were more than those in underdeveloped and sparsely populated areas.There was no significant difference in the amount of funding per grant between different departments’investigators.However,the funding output ratios of the grants for cardiologists were higher than those for basic science investigators.The amount of funding for clinical researchers and basic scientific researchers in aortic dissection was also similar.Clinical researchers were better in terms of the funding output ratio.Conclusion These results suggest that the medical and scientific research level of aortic dissection in China has been greatly improved.However,there are still some problems that urgently need to be solved,such as the unreasonable regional allocation of medical and scientific research resources,and the slow transition from basic science to clinical practice.

Sri Lanka Gets Closer To IMF Funds After China Support

This October,International Monetary Fund(IMF)staff and the Sri Lankan authorities reached a stafflevel agreement on economic policies to conclude the first review of the 48-month Extended Fund Facility(EFF)-supported programme.Sri Lanka will have access to Special Drawing Right(SDR)254 million(about US$330 million)in financing once the review is approved by IMF Management and IMF Executive Board.

Making Sense of Anything thru Analytics: Employees Provident Fund (EPF)

Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has always been a hot topic, from the previous Government permitted “withdrawals” during the pandemic to the present Government disallowing further withdrawals (afraid it would lead to a financial crisis) and allowing emergency loans through an EPF collateral agreement. The latter used median studies to “contribute” MYR 500 to EPF members with less than RM 10,000 in their accounts. Baffled/bewildered by the current Government’s generosity and highlighted in this paper, I used Monte Carlo simulation, a method used by analysts when determining the size of a client’s portfolio to support their desired retirement lifestyle, to establish a reference-type table displaying ideal savings when reaching 50. The Government could use the table mentioned above to give more meaningful contributions to EPF members, apart from EPF active and inactive members, knowing where they stand concerning their current EPF savings.

Strategies for China’s Response to and Improvement of Third-Party Funding in International Investment Arbitration

China should prioritize the establishment and enhancement of a third-party funding system.It should actively refine the existing arbitration rules,addressing any loopholes in the current regulatory framework.Comprehensive measures should be implemented to regulate third-party funding,aligning with international trends.This is crucial not only to safeguard the foreign investment of the Chinese government and enterprises but also to position China as a globally influential arbitration center.

The Impact of Population Aging on the Expenditure of Medical Insurance Fund for Urban Workers in China

Objective To explore the impact of population aging on the expenditures of medical insurance funds against the background that great changes in population structure influences economic development.Methods Through analyzing the impact of the population aging,the income and accumulated balance of the medical insurance fund,and other related factors on the expenditure of the medical insurance fund,development status of the medical insurance fund for urban employees in China since 2003 was obtained.Stata 16.0 was used to perform multiple linear regression analysis on related factors to determine the correlation between population aging and the change in medical insurance expenditures.Results and Conclusion The factors that have a greater impact on the expenditure of the medical insurance fund are the amount of income from the medical insurance,followed by the number of people over the age of 65 in China and the urban retired employees participating in medical insurance.We should focus on the sustainable development of the urban employee medical insurance fund to deal with the threat of aging.

Research on Accounting Issues of the Pension Insurance Fund for Urban Employees

Pension insurance is a vital component of China's social security system,ensuring the welfare of the general publie.This study centers on the revenue and expenses of City S's urban employee basic pension insurance fund.It introduces and analyzes the fund's accounting status from four key perspectives:fund raising.expenditure,financial statement system,and accounting information disclosure.The research identifes existing problems in City S's accounting system and conducts in-depth research on these issues.Furthermore,an empirical analysis is conducted on the management of the pension insurance fund.Through this empirical study,the paper aims to offer insights and recommendations for promoting stable and healthy development measures for City S'8 urban employee basic pension insurance fund.

香港第三方资助仲裁制度及其对《仲裁法》修订的启示

香港《2017年仲裁及调解(第三方资助)(修订)条例》的颁布为第三方资助仲裁的合法化扫除了障碍,《第三方资助仲裁实务守则》则详细规定了出资第三方所需遵从的常规和标准。对于第三方资助仲裁,香港地区依循的是轻度规管的路线。从内容上来看,相关规定较为全面,更好地保护了受资助方的利益,保障了第三方资助仲裁的健康发展,有利于提高香港地区作为国际仲裁中心的竞争力。与此同时,立法者也为第三方资助仲裁的未来发展预留了充分的空间。这些都对中国内地具有借鉴与启示作用。鉴于已出现第三方资助仲裁的实践,在《仲裁法》的修订中应当借鉴香港地区分阶段规管的思路,在立法上明确承认其合法地位,日后通过司法解释和仲裁规则对其予以具体化和制度化。

高校发展型资助育人赋能乡村振兴:内在逻辑与实践路径

随着我国经济社会的快速发展,教育在国家事业建设中扮演着越发重要的基础工程角色。通过教育手段帮助贫困地区和贫困家庭摆脱贫困是落实习近平总书记关于教育扶贫重要论述的重要举措,高校需要积极参与发展型资助育人工作,为受助学生提供全方位的支持和帮助,提升资助工作的精准度,充分发挥物质保障的功能,注重培养学生诚实守信、感恩意识和自立自强,为受助学生提供丰富的实践平台,激发成长活力和成才动力,打破贫困家庭的教育障碍,为乡村振兴做出积极贡献。

优化地方政府投资基金运作的路径与思考

政府投资基金是落实宏观经济政策的重要手段、支持产业发展的有力方式、破解企业融资瓶颈的有效渠道。我国政府投资基金从初步探索、快速发展转向高质量发展。但在运营方面仍存在诸多不足,政策导向和盈利导向之间存在矛盾,市场化运作受决策程序、产业发展方向制约,资本逐利影响了产业政策落实,基金投资与市场主体争利问题突出等。本文分析了济宁市政府投资基金运作的困境压力,提出优化政府投资基金运作需要进一步明确支持方向、完善投后管理和赋能机制、强化基金投资运作过程管理等。济宁市政府投资基金优化运营,重点应加大基金注入,完善基金制度体系,围绕项目、突出平台、强化联动,提升基金投放质效。

2023年度国家自然科学基金联合基金项目申请受理、评审与资助情况综述

联合基金作为国家自然科学基金的重要组成部分,在引导和整合社会资源投入基础研究方面发挥了重要作用。2023年国家自然科学基金委员会稳步推进新时期联合基金改革,会同各联合资助方圆满完成了联合基金项目申请受理、评审与资助工作。本文统计分析了2023年度国家自然科学基金联合基金项目申请、受理与资助数据,分别介绍了项目指南发布、项目申请及其特点、项目初审、评审与资助的情况,并对2024年度联合基金工作进行了展望。

关于设立面向全球科学研究基金的思考与建议

气候变化、健康危机和粮食安全等问题通常会超越国家间的地理边界,是典型的全球性挑战。随着不同挑战的日益加剧,设立全球科学研究基金已成为推动科技进步、探索创新解决方案和加强伙伴关系的重要手段。在此背景下,“研究设立面向全球的科学研究基金”是我国“十四五”时期(2021—2025年)完善科技创新体制的重要举措。为推进这一举措落实,本文在分析主要发达国家(美国、加拿大、英国、德国、日本、澳大利亚)和欧盟针对全球挑战的科研基金资助经验和广泛调研研讨的基础上,从人才项目、研究项目和大科学装置项目三个方面提出了我国未来设立面向全球的科学研究基金的建议,并探讨了相应的遴选、评估和管理机制,以期促进我国科研资助体系的创新发展,逐步提升我国在全球挑战研究中的国际影响力。

私募投资基金涉罪的争点问题思考

私募投资基金行业在快速发展的过程中,不仅暴露了不少违规经营、管理失范等问题,而且涉及相关刑事犯罪。私募投资基金涉罪,包括纯正的私募基金犯罪和不纯正的私募基金犯罪两类。从非法性要素看,私募机构未经登记备案而擅自募集基金有可能涉嫌非法集资,但也不能仅仅因为行为违反了私募基金管理有关规定就直接认定为构成非法集资犯罪,要构成非法集资犯罪必须同时违反关于非法集资的相关法律规定。从金融性要素看,“私募基金管理公司”不属于有关《刑法》条文规定中的“基金管理公司”范围。从募集性要素看,私募基金管理人采用代持、拼单或非法拆分等间接投资方式募集基金,突破合格投资者限制,涉嫌变相非法集资。私募基金涉罪的监管规制路径包括完善有关刑事立法、司法解释规定,重视企业合规管理。

养老保险省级统筹对养老保险基金平衡的影响研究

提高基本养老保险统筹层次是增强养老金支付能力的重要改革举措,也是实现养老金制度安全规范发展的关键。文章基于养老保险省级统筹改革的准自然实验,利用2008-2019年中国A股上市公司数据,构建双重差分模型实证评估了养老保险统筹改革对企业实际缴费率及基本养老保险基金平衡的影响。研究发现:省级统筹显著降低了企业养老保险实际缴费率,该结果在更改变量度量方式、排除竞争性解释、考虑异质性处理效应等一系列稳健性检验中仍然成立。养老保险省级统筹在不同征管模式、企业类型及地区层面对企业养老保险实际缴费率存在异质性影响,对于社保征收和税务代征模式、劳动密集度高的企业、所在地区老龄化程度低和财政压力小的企业影响更明显。机制分析发现,市县政府由于“相对剥夺效应”和“逐底竞争效应”所产生的征管强度不足是造成省级统筹改革后企业缴费率下降的重要因素。进一步分析表明,省级统筹改革降低了基金收支平衡,并对中西部省份影响更明显。研究对于加强地方政府征管治理、促进养老保险基金平衡发展具有重要启示,为征管主体间利益关系的平衡及养老保险全国统筹的顺利推进提供了经验证据。

聚焦临床关键科学问题充实科学基金资助体系

临床科学研究是我国医学界实现“原始创新”与提供“中国证据”“中国数据”“中国方案”的关键抓手。近30年来,我国在临床研究监管体系、基地与平台、队伍建设以及成果产出等方面取得长足进步。但我国临床研究的源头创新和临床转化能力相对薄弱。国家自然科学基金(以下简称“科学基金”)作为推动基础研究源头创新的核心力量,在我国医学科学发展中始终发挥关键引领作用。面向我国临床研究领域亟待解决的重大需求、关键临床科学问题和技术瓶颈,如何引领医学科学领域的研究方向,并以此契合临床重大需求及应用转化、激发临床研究者的创新源动力、鼓励基于临床关键科学问题的自由探索临床研究,是科学基金需要直面和解决的时代命题。本文就我国临床科学研究的现状、科学基金资助临床研究的模式与效能、科学基金支持临床研究实施过程中可能存在的问题与解决方案等做了初步调研并提出相关建议。

在华外资企业外迁的动因、影响及应对策略

近年来,部分行业的外资企业外迁有所增加,引发了社会各界比较广泛的关注。外资企业外迁的动因涉及综合商务成本上升、国际环境和地缘政治影响、其他国家营商环境与招商引资吸引,以及国内企业竞争等多重因素。对外资企业外迁的利弊要综合分析,既要看到外迁带来的外贸出口份额减少、对GDP和税收增长的不利影响、给社会就业带来的压力等消极影响,也要看到外迁对国内产业转型升级和提升中国在全球价值链中的地位具有一定积极作用。针对部分行业外资企业的外迁现象,建议相关政府部门采取持续优化营商环境、进一步落实“负面清单”、鼓励外资企业在国内异地搬迁转移等措施,最大限度地减少外资企业外迁的数量与规模,促进外资企业在中国经济高质量发展中发挥出更大的推动作用。