Neglected disease research

We work to increase innovation, availability and access to diagnostics and therapeutics for neglected tropical diseases, which predominantly affect people who are too poor to constitute a market attractive to private-sector R&D investment. We work with universities to remove barriers preventing or hindering them from embarking on neglected disease research, lobby universities to increase the amount of research conducted on neglected diseases, and educate students and faculty about neglected diseases.

Current efforts include:

• Developing educational modules on neglected tropical diseases, distributed through the Global Health Education Consortium (GHEC) to health care providers in the developing world
• Working to promote education and drug accessibility for Chagas disease in North America
• Researching the intellectual property history of specific drugs, in collaboration with UNITAID, to support advocacy for their addition to the UNITAID patent pool
• Writing other publications on neglected diseases

To get involved in these projects, contact ND Working Group leader Laura Musselwhite at laura.musselwhite@gmail.com.

Past events

• UAEM University Innovation Symposium in Washington DC, November 2010
• Tri-Institutional Neglected Disease Forum in New York, January 2007

Further reading

• SP Kishore SP, PS Dhadialla. A student-led campaign to help tackle neglected tropical diseases. PLoS Med. 2007 Jul 24;4(7):e241.
• SP Kishore, G Tavera, P Hotez. The Global Health Crisis and Our Nation's Research Universities. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 4(2): e635. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0000635
• CE Chen, CT Gilliland, J Purcell, SP Kishore. The Silent Epidemic of Exclusive University Licensing Policies on Compounds for Neglected Diseases and Beyond. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 4(3): e570. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0000570
• Nathan, Carl. Commentary: Aligning Pharmaceutical Innovation with Medical Need. Nature Medicine: Volume 13, Number 3. March 2007. http:www.nature.com/naturemedicine 

Photo credit: WHO/TDR/Crump