WS 13 - Innovative New Ways in Fighting NTDs

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a group of tropical infections that affect the world’s poor and marginalized populations. According to the World Health Organization, more than a billion people or one-seventh of the global population suffer from one or more tropical infectious diseases.

Availability of treatment, technology transfer, scientific collaboration and knowledge sharing but also research and development are important to move forward against some of the world’s most debilitating and stigmatizing diseases. Partnerships and collaborations can play a crucial role in solving intractable challenges and tackling neglected diseases. Refined diagnostic tests and techniques allow NTD-programs to achieve success. More sensibility, cost-efficiency and good partnerships among academic, philanthropic, pharmaceutical, governmental, and nongovernmental organizations are a must.

Refined diagnostic tests and techniques allow NTD-programs to achieve success. For example: diagnostic testing for lymphatic filariasis (LF) is now more sensitive and cost-efficient, thanks to a partnership among academic, philanthropic, pharmaceutical, governmental, and nongovernmental organizations. The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) is working on new macrofilaricides acting through an anti-Wolbachia mechanism. Together with Abbvie DNDi is following up on screening hits for parasites causing visceral leishmaniasis and Chagas’ disease, and nematodes causing river blindness and lymphatic filariasis.