Recent trends have shown a dramatic increase in student interest in NTDs and global health in general. However, the role of universities in the field of NTDs has lagged behind student interest. While that’s happening, there is a widening innovation gap in NTD treatments and the field of NTDs remains largely underfunded. So in a field in need of innovation and research funding, what can universities do to create significant, positive change?
That very question is the topic of an editorial recently released in PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases by Dr. Peter Hotez, President of the Sabin Vaccine Institute, Sandeep Kishore, abiomedical fellow at Weill Cornell, The Rockefeller University, and Sloan-Kettering Institute, and Gloria Tavera, a Fullbright Research Scholar at the Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica in Mexico.
In the paper they recommend three key steps that universities can take. The first step is for universities to develop new seed funds for NTD research. These seed funds could go to providing new student fellowships, operational support, or any number of other beneficial purposes. The second step is eliminating IP barriers around NTD research. Removing those barriers would make the development of life-saving drugs quicker and cheaper. The third step is to create new metrics that favor NTDs regarding faculty appointments. Current metrics are biased against NTDs, contributing to the gap between student interest in global health and NTDs and the opportunities universities provide.
By following these three steps, universities can become key movers in the NTD field, making invaluable contributions and saving countless individuals from the grasp of disease.
To read the complete paper, click here.
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In addition, please visit http://globalnetwork.org/just50cents/campus-challenge to read about the Global Network’s signature grassroots effort to get college students involved in the opportunity to make a meaningful impact by becoming a Student Ambassador and fighting the world’s most neglected tropical diseases.
