DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.24958.3 ISSN: 2398-502X

Living mapping review of global research funding for high-risk pathogens-Pandemic PACT Grant Tracker

Rodrigo Furst, Emilia Antonio, Shanthi Levanita, Zaharat Kadri-Alabi, Johannes Paolo Cerrado, Nusrat Jabin, Susan Khader Ibrahim, Thomas Mendy, Adrian Bucher, Alice Norton
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Background The COVID-19 pandemic spurred an unprecedented global research response, highlighting the need for better coordination amid limited resources and the ongoing threat of emerging diseases. The Pandemic PACT Programme has developed a live database tracking funded research on high-risk pathogens and broader preparedness efforts to facilitate improved pandemic preparedness. This paper presents the first analysis update of this dataset, examining trends in research funding identified by the Pandemic PACT programme by disease, geography and research topic, and identifying which funders are supporting high-risk pathogen research, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods As of December 6, 2025, the database includes 28,176 awards from 330 funding organisations spread across 60 different countries, representing at least $25.9 billion in financial commitments. We conducted a living mapping review to provide an open, accessible analysis of the funded research portfolio on high-risk infectious diseases. The review analyses funding trends from 2020 to 2025 across high-risk pathogens and research areas, identifying key investment priorities and potential gaps. Results Analysis of the Pandemic PACT dataset reveals an uneven global research investment across high-risk infectious diseases. While funding has generally aligned with research priorities, research around diagnostics, health systems research, and ethics are the focus of comparatively fewer research awards. Although vaccine and therapeutic research dominate the portfolio, much of it remains focused on pre-clinical and early-phase trials. There is, however, increasing attention to vector and environmental research in comparison to prior analyses on COVID-19 research. Investments remain concentrated in high-income countries, with limited financial support for context-specific research led by institutions in LMICs. The stated inclusion of populations identified to be vulnerable in funded awards is also limited. Conclusions Our findings reveal critical gaps and disparities in global pandemic preparedness research funding through research awards identified and collected by Pandemic PACT. Investments remain concentrated in high-income countries, with limited funding for LMIC-led research and identifyable representation of vulnerable populations across the funded research portfolio. The relatively lower levels of investment in diagnostics, health systems research, and ethics indicate potential gaps within the current high-risk pathogen research portfolio. The living design of this review will enable ongoing monitoring of these gaps, providing real-time evidence to support funder coordination and policy decisions.

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