Date of Award

1-1-2016

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Department

School of Public Health

First Advisor

Robert Makuch

Abstract

The absence of commercial diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines hindered control efforts during the recent Zika and Ebola epidemics. This study evaluates the connectivity and productivity of both viruses’ R&D networks before, during, and after the epidemics to ascertain the ability of current R&D practices to support the development of crucial biotechnologies. Both network maps exhibited low baseline connectivity with emergent collaborative R&D practices during the identified outbreak period that correlated with increased research productivity. It is argued that formally establishing permanent collaborative, open R&D practices prior to epidemics can enhance scientific knowledge and innovation capabilities to more effectively advance commercial availability of diagnostics, therapies, and vaccines for emerging diseases.

Open Access

This Article is Open Access

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