Cross Cutting Social Science Research for COVID-19

The global community has mobilised in an unprecedented way to deliver research in response to the threat of COVID-19. In February 2020, priority areas for research were advanced under a coordinated mechanism convened by the World Health Organisation. For social science a cross cutting research agenda was proposed in recognition of the vital role played by individuals, communities and populations worldwide in slowing disease tranmssison and providing care for COVID-19 and beyond. Research initiatives, including over 300 social science studies funded by GloPID-R members alone, have been advanced against these social science priorities. Building on earlier successes in supporting epidemic-relevant research, the research arm of GOARN, the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, has actively coordinated this work with WHO. There is a pressing need to properly resource coordination and knowledge mobilisation of epidemic-relevant social science research. Further, there is an important opportunity to leverage the reach and expertise of GOARN and establish infrastructure for the COVID-19 response as well as for future scenarios to ensure that structures for epidemic-relevant research can take hold: the well worn phrase of "building the ship while we sail it" is unsustainable as an effective and efficient research response to infectious disease epidemics.