The current biomedical Research and Development (R&D) system serves profits over people. In the last 20 years, various R&D initiatives have appeared in response to this failure. Some offer true alternative models of R&D driven by health needs, while others continue business as usual. UAEM’s RE:Route mapping and data visualization provides a qualitative review of the alternative biomedical R&D initiatives around the world that are active or proposed.

Re:Route aims to engage in a growing collaborative dialogue around the exploration of needs-driven and people-oriented biomedical R&D. It draws attention to what is currently out there and provides a starting point for an ongoing and inclusive dialogue informed by facts. It was included in the UN High Level Panel Report on Access to Medicines in 2016. 

Visit UAEM’s Alt:ReRoute microsite, download the mapping and join us in taking this project forward. 

R&D Principles and Practices

Global Charter for the Advancement of Equitable Biomedical Research and Development

Biomedical research should be driven by people’s health needs and underpinned by the universal right of all human beings to the highest attainable standard of health. The Global Charter for the Advancement of Equitable Biomedical Research and Development aims to build consensus on the key principles and practices needed to achieve a more just and equitable approach to R&D. It builds on previous work done by numerous international agencies, expert committees, civil society groups and academia, including the WHO Consultative Expert Working Group on R&D (CEWG) and the UN High Level Panel on Access to Medicines.

Agreeing that:

• We must prioritize the health and wellbeing of people over the drive for profits, and support policies and models of funding that incentivize research to most directly benefit the public;
• Today’s profit-centered model of biomedical R&D has proven ill-suited to address the health needs of all people worldwide;
• To maximize the health impact of biomedical R&D, we need a new approach to R&D that delivers genuine innovation that is accessible and affordable for all, and that is governed by equitable principles and practices;

We hereby affirm that an equitable global approach to biomedical R&D should apply the following principles and practices:

Visit Charter of Equitable R&D (equitablernd.org) to learn more.