Morphology of Vaccine RD&D translation

TL;DR

This paper quantitatively analyzes the complex translation processes in vaccine research and development, revealing prevalent pathways, feedback mechanisms, and funder roles in biomedical innovation.

Contribution

It introduces a multivariate approach to quantify biomedical translation, highlighting diverse translation types and funder involvement in vaccine RD&D.

Findings

Most common translation is between basic and applied research (52%).

Knowledge feedbacks are widespread, not just one-way from research to application.

Funding agencies differ in translation roles, with NIH focusing on early-stage translation.

Abstract

Translation as a concept coordinates participation in innovation but remains a qualitative construct. We provide multivariate accounting of linkages between market entries of vaccines, clinical trials, patents, publications, funders, and grants to quantify biomedical translation. We found that the most prevalent types of biomedical translation are those between basic and applied research (52 percent) followed by those between research and product development (36 percent). Although many biomedical stakeholders assume knowledge flows one way from upstream research to downstream application, knowledge feedbacks that mediate translation are prevalent. We also cluster biomedical funders based on the types of translations they fund. Large-scale funding agencies such as NIH are similarly involved in early-stage translation, whereas pharmaceuticals and mission-oriented agencies such as DARPA involve diverse translation types, and each leaves different translation footprints.