ISLAMABAD:Scale-up and integration of global mass treatment programmes along with new tools and technologies are crucial for control and elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).
This was highlighted by the speakers of a webinar on ‘ Identifying and Validating New Drug Targets for NTDs held on Monday.
Professor Patrick G Steel, Department of Chemistry and Biophysical Sciences Institute, Durham University, United Kingdom (UK), delivered the third lecture of COMSTECH-NTD Network joint lecture series.
COMSTECH, in collaboration with the global network for NTDs has launched a virtual lecture series for researchers across the Muslim world, to build capacity to appropriately address NTDs.
Prof Dr M Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General, COMSTECH introduced the speaker.
He said the NTDs are a major health and economic burden in OIC member states.
The control and elimination of NTDs require both a scale-up and integration of global mass treatment programmes, along with new tools and technologies to tackle these diseases.
Professor Patrick G Steel talked about the disease’s genetic basis, current research work and future prospects to treat and control Leishmaniasis and Chagas disease. He also talked about the current techniques being used by the scientists in the field.
The NTD Network — funded by UKRI’s Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) — is a consortium of academic researchers from South America, Asia, and the UK, seeking new therapeutic solutions to Leishmaniasis and Chagas disease.
Both COMSTECH and the NTD Network aim to promote global scientific cooperation and build research capacity to find new and better therapeutic solutions for NTDs.
This webinar was attended by academics, scientists and the general public from OIC member states.