New series on helminth infections R&D agenda
Eight new reviews on helminth diseases have been published in a special collection of PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. The work was produced from the TDR Disease Reference Group on Helminth Infections (DRG4), which reviewed six major helminth diseases:
- soil-transmitted helminthiasis;
- schistosomiasis;
- lymphatic filariasis;
- onchocerciasis;
- food-borne trematodiasis; and
- cysticercosis/taeniasis.
Additionally, an Editorial from Jürg Utzinger provides an overview to all eight reviews and emphasizes the importance of continued research on these six diseases, which together have an enormous global health impact.
The authors point to the need for commitment at many levels, including local communities, politicians, philanthropic organisations and civil societies. The series aims to move beyond providing a reference for researchers on existing and known issues in the field and instead plots a course for policy-makers, researchers, and funding bodies in key areas to target in the ongoing campaign to eliminate helminthiases.
DRG4, chaired by Sara Lustigman and co-chaired by Boakye A. Boatin, was given the mandate to undertake a comprehensive review of recent advances in helminthiases research, identify research gaps, and rank priorities for an R&D agenda for the control and elimination of these infections. The 14 members of DRG4 are academic or public health leaders at world-class research institutions, international bodies, and public health and governmental organizations. This group of eight reviews on helminth infections was developed out of analyses and deliberations by the group members conducted during 2010 and 2011.
For more information, please contact:
Jamie Guth
TDR Communications Manager
Telephone: +41 79 441 2289
E-mail: guthj@who.int