[Reforming Biosciences and Health Research: Part I, Funding].

Area of Science:

• Health Research
• Biological Sciences
• Medical Funding

Context:

• The COVID-19 pandemic coincided with a significant reduction in financial support for biological and health research in France.
• Analysis reveals that research credits in 2020 constituted only 17.2% of total research allocations, the lowest ratio in at least 15 years.

Purpose:

• To analyze the allocation of resources for biological and health research in France during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To identify weaknesses in the hospital research support system, particularly fund allocation from the health insurance system.
• To propose recommendations for aligning with international best practices and improving research system organization.

Summary:

• The study highlights a dramatic decline in funding for biological and health research in France, reaching a 15-year low in 2020.
• A key issue identified is the suboptimal allocation of health insurance funds for hospital research.
• The paper suggests establishing a "Hospital Research Orientation Council" to manage fund allocation and participate in national research programming.
• Recommendations are also provided for enhancing research system functionality at both local (university hospitals) and national levels.

Impact:

• Proposes structural reforms to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of health and biological research funding in France.
• Aims to align French research funding practices with international standards.
• Recommendations can guide policy decisions to strengthen the research ecosystem, particularly within university hospitals.