Hear This Idea #78 – Jacob Trefethen on Global Health R&D
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Sep 8, 2024 Jacob Trefethen, overseeing science policy programs at Open Philanthropy, explores the urgent need for innovative health technologies, like a TB vaccine. He discusses the complexities of R&D for neglected diseases, emphasizing funding disparities and the slow drug development process. Trefethen offers no-brainer policy ideas to speed up global health advancements and questions the future role of AI in research. The conversation also highlights the challenges in diagnostics and the vital need for effective partnerships in healthcare improvements.
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TB Complexity and Nutrition Link
- TB is a complex disease with many unknowns, like the number of latent infections and correlates of protection.
- It's linked to nutrition, with studies showing improved nutrition reducing TB incidence.
TB Vaccine Economics
- An adult TB vaccine would exist if TB affected wealthy nations at the same rate as poorer ones.
- Vaccine development is hindered by economic factors, not just technical ones.
Clinical Trial Challenges for Rare Diseases
- Clinical trials for diseases with rarer but severe infections require larger sample sizes.
- This is due to the need for statistically significant results and the lower incidence of the disease.