On the morning of September 19th, with the invitation of one of our collaborators, María Ángeles Muñoz, the head of the Molecular Immunobiology lab at Gregorio Marañón University Hospital, Salud por Derecho carried out its fifth breakfast conversation with researchers regarding their perspective and ideas for improving the current biomedical innovation system.
The discussion focused on the importance of balancing the relationships and risks among all of the stakeholders involved in the R&D process, as well as the principles and conditions, such as socially responsible licensing that should guide science managers in the definition of agreements and contracts. Participants also debated the opportunity that Horizon 2020 poses for researchers and the importance of advocating that the new EU research framework program responds to and compensates for what the pharmaceutical industry does not invest in because it has to respond to shareholders. We also discussed the need to involve the vision of researchers in these questions and mobilize a critical mass of individuals who are dedicated to ensuring that needs-driven principles are taken into account in the development and funding of R&D projects.
This conversation is one of many that are taking place within the framework of Salud por Derecho’s Catalytic Project, which seeks to involve the scientific community as well as public and private institutions that support research in the effort to direct R&D policy toward a biomedical innovation model that is oriented toward meeting people’s health needs and the generation of public goods by introducing specific mechanisms, and reforms, as well as alternative models to guide publicly funded biomedical R&D. Horizon 2020’s implementation will be a clear opportunity to do so. The open access principles are already pointed out among its strategic lines, as mentioned in the document released by the European Council in July. However, many of the most important best practices to ensure a more efficient, needs-driven and public goods oriented EU research have to be addressed; inter alia the criteria to create and give long term financial support for Public-Private Partnerships such as the Innovative Medicines Initiative. For further analysis and recommendations on how the EU should play a leading role in biomedical innovation see the HAI and TACD’s policy paper.
It is expected than the Horizon 2020 legislative package will be voted on by the European Parliament during the latter half of October or earlier November. Afterwards, it is expected that the Council of the EU will formally approve the legislative package on Horizon 2020 in November or December. Consequently, it will be in December when the adoption of Horizon 2020’s work programmes will take place as well as the publication of the first calls for proposals.
Vanessa López
Executive Director, Salud por Derecho
Erika Meyer
Projects Officer, Salud por Derecho
