This study seeks to analyse and explain how innovation works in
emergency communicable disease responses. It does so through use of the
concept of an innovation ecosystem, the set of factors and actors that
come together in ways that might foster or inhibit effective innovation
processes. It looks at innovations across the range of activities
involved in communicable disease responses in emergencies, and seeks to
better understand the ecosystem by reviewing both positive examples,
where innovations have emerged and been successful, and more challenging
examples, where innovations have not happened, or where they have not
By looking across such contrasting examples, the study aims for a
rounded picture of innovation in emergency disease responses,
highlighting both the strengths and the weaknesses in the system. There
have been some notable successes, amongst them the development of new
diagnostics for TB, or new approaches to prevention, for disease
surveillance, and treatment and management. There have been successful
innovations within crisis responses, such as the response to polio
outbreaks in Syria. But there are also notable failures include
ineffective utilization of innovations in rapid responses such as Ebola
in West Africa, and cholera in Haiti.
The study reveals an innovation ecosystem that is good in certain parts,
and at certain times, but which is heavily reliant on a number of
critical internal actors, and on external capacities and resources.
Moreover, the ecosystem is far from systematic, and is not always well
suited to the nature and dynamics of emergency work.
Ramalingam, B. Case study: Innovations in emergency disease response. CENTRIM, University of Brighton, Brighton, UK (2015) 44 pp.
Case study: Innovations in emergency disease response