Research Commentary

Smart planner: radically accelerating R&D to combat a biothreat

  1. Andrew T. Chadwick†,
  2. Roger A. Edwards*

Article first published online: 12 JUN 2009

DOI: 10.1002/ddr.20310

Issue

Drug Development Research

Drug Development Research

Special Issue: Biodefense Countermeasure Development

Volume 70, Issue 4, pages 335–348, June 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Chadwick, A. T. and Edwards, R. A. (2009), Smart planner: radically accelerating R&D to combat a biothreat. Drug Development Research, 70: 335–348. doi: 10.1002/ddr.20310

Author Information

  1. Life Sciences & Healthcare, PA Consulting Group, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Cambridge, Massachusetts

  1. †

    Tessella plc, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, UK

*Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, 206 Mugar Building, Boston, MA 02115

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 12 JUN 2009
  2. Article first published online: 12 JUN 2009

Funded by

  • U.S. Army Medical Research Aquisition Activity, Defense Threat Reduction Agency and The U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command. Grant Number: W81XWH-06-C-001

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Keywords:

  • biodefense;
  • uncertainty;
  • risk;
  • biothreat;
  • cognitive bias

Abstract

Conventional R&D processes are ill-suited to biothreats and biothreat preparation because they are intended to support risk-averse decisions for patients and are designed for longer expected development times. The Smart Planner tool is a risk visualization framework developed to help contingency and R&D planners quantify and balance risk, uncertainty, and time. The tool incorporates the following capabilities: (1) visualization of the risks of inaction; (2) identification of critical areas of uncertainty where new information can really make a difference; (3) decision support for (i) development and treatment options and (ii) optimization of tradeoffs given various timescales. The tool facilitates alignment of research planners' acceptance of risks with policy-makers' strategic views of benefits in the context of apparent or overt threats. Policy and ethical implications for application of the tool are also discussed. Drug Dev Res 70:335–348, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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