Research Funding for Male Reproductive Health and Infertility in the UK and USA [2016 – 2019]

Title Research Funding for Male Reproductive Health and Infertility in the UK and USA [2016 – 2019]

Study question What is the research funding for male reproductive health and infertility in the UK and US between 2016 to 2019?

Summary answer The average funding for a research project in male reproductive health and infertility was not significantly different to that for female-based projects (£653,733 in the UK and $779,707 in the US). However, only 0.07% and 0.83% of government funds from NIHR (UK) and NICHD (USA) was granted for male reproductive health, respectively.

What is known already There is a marked paucity of data on research funding for male reproductive health.

Study design, size, duration Examined government databases over a total 4-year period from January 2016 to December 2019.

Participants/materials, setting, methods Information on the funding provided to male-based and female-based research was collected using public accessed web-databases from the UKRI-GTR, the NIHR’s Open Data Summary, and the US’ NIH RePORT. Funded projects that began research activity between January 2016 to December 2019 were recorded, along with their grant and project details. Strict inclusion-exclusion criteria were followed for both UK and US data with a primary research focus of male infertility, reproductive health and disorders, and contraception development. Funding support was divided into three research groups: male-based, female-based, and not-specified research. Between the 4-year period, the UK is divided into 5 funding periods, starting from 2015/16 to 2019/20, and the US is divided into 5 fiscal years, from 2016 to 2020.

Main results and the role of chance Between January 2016 to December 2019, UK agencies awarded a total of £11,767,190 to 18 projects for male-based research and £29,850,945 to 40 projects for female-based research. There was no statistically significant difference in funding average between the two research groups (P=0.56, W=392). The US NIH funded 76 projects totaling $59,257,746 for male-based research and 99 projects totaling $83,272,898 for female-based research. There was no statistically significant difference in funding average between the two groups (P=0.83, W=3834).

Limitations, reasons for caution The findings of this study cannot be used to generalize and reflect global funding trends towards infertility and reproductive health as the data collected followed a narrow funding timeframe from government agencies and only two countries. Other funding sources such as charities, industry and major philanthropic organizations were not evaluated.

Wider implications of the findings This is the first study examining funding granted by main government research agencies from the UK and US for male reproductive health. This study should stimulate further discussion of the challenges of tackling male infertility and reproductive health disorders and formulate appropriate investment strategies.

Study funding/competing interest(s) CLRB is Editor for RBMO and has received lecturing fees from Merck, Pharmasure, and Ferring. His laboratory is funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, CSO, Genus. No other authors declare a conflict of interest.