
The Newborn research funding map shows 1,300 research grants identified in a systematic analysis of newborn health and stillbirth funding, published in The Lancet Global Health. The map visualises where and how funding is distributed globally, as well as highlighting the global inequalities that exist in funding in this area.
The study and map show that more than $577m (USD) a year is spent funding research that mentions newborns. But where does it go?
- Only 7% of newborn research funding was allocated to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) between 2011 and 2020, despite these countries accounting for 98% of the 2.3 million neonatal deaths per year.
- Of this 7%, very few grants are led by LMIC institutions. High-income country recipients received more funding over a two-year period than LMIC based recipients received in a decade.
- There are 1.9 million stillbirths per year worldwide, yet they are only mentioned in around 2% of relevant grants.
- Only 3% of research funding is for implementation research, despite this potentially having the greatest impact on accelerating progress for small and sick newborn health due to its focus on actively scaling and sustaining evidence-based interventions.
The team created the map to highlight these inequalities and help connect researchers, doctors, nurses, midwives, policymakers and professionals working in low- and middle-income contexts. Users can find information including the total funding amount, recipient organisation, research theme and where the study is classified along the research pipeline; from basic science to implementation research, to support in finding potential new collaborators.
The map also aims to amplify the uptake of research findings from the current limited funding for newborn research in LMIC settings and increase transparency and accountability to help reshape global research funding to better match burden and context, with more on implementation research.
Change the landscape using this map
Dr Doris Kwesiga, a postdoctoral researcher at the African Population Health and Research Centre highlighted the map’s benefits for early career researchers.
Dr Kwesiga said: “The map directs me to what research areas are being studied in which countries and who is conducting the work. As a postdoctoral researcher, the map helps me understand which areas are saturated, which topics are receiving less attention, as well as the topics that could benefit from follow-up studies.”
The Newborn Toolkit
The map is hosted on the Newborn Toolkit website, an online learning platform containing over 1,000 tools and readings for those working in small and sick newborn care in low- and middle-income contexts to support health systems strengthening. In 2024, the Newborn Toolkit had around 55,000 unique users from 198 countries and territories. The map was funded by an LSHTM Dragon’s Den type competition award - a competition in which research ideas were presented to a panel of judges to bid for funding to develop their innovation - won by the Newborn Toolkit’s team in 2023. This competition is supported by Wellcome Trust’s Institutional Translational Partnership Award.
Joy Lawn, Professor of Maternal Reproductive Child Health at LSHTM and senior author of The Lancet Global Health analysis commented on the importance of this work. Professor Lawn said: “There are gaps for newborn related research, but even more so for stillbirths. LSHTM has been a leader in putting both of these high burden issues on the map and can continue to lead in shaping the research for true impact and lives saved around the world. We hope this map will be a key tool for implementers working in small and sick newborn care to inform and guide impact on existing gaps.”
Additional information
The map was conceptualised and created by LSHTM staff Lauren Allison, Toby Whatley, Dr Mbozu Sipalo, and Professor Joy Lawn. Credit to the “Research funding for newborn health and stillbirths, 2011–20: a systematic analysis of levels and trends” authorship team for developing and sharing the dataset displayed on the map.
Share your insights and feedback: newborntoolkit@nest360.org
If you enjoyed this article and would like to build a career in global health, we offer a range of MSc programmes covering health and data, infectious and tropical diseases, population health, and public health and policy.
Available on campus or online, including flexible study that works around your work and home life, be part of a global community at the UK's no.1 public health university.