LSTM hosts international meeting on Neglected Tropical Diseases

News article 20 Apr 2016
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LSTM’s Filarial Programmes Support Unit (FPSU) hosted a three day meeting earlier this week for the Working Group on Crosscutting Issues for the Neglected Tropical Disease NGDO Network. 

The meeting was attended by over 30 representatives from a wide range of organisations and institutions who focus on many of the NTD diseases and conditions including leprosy, podoconiosis, trachoma, Buruli ulcer, onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, Chagas disease and snakebite. Participants came from all over the world, with people travelling from across the UK, Europe, India, Africa and countries in both North and South America. 

The three days were full of interactive talks and workshops, covering topics across a range of neglected tropical diseases and conditions. It was introduced by LSTM’s Professor Charles Mackenzie, Head of FPSU and Professor Martin Kollmann from CBM in Nairobi. Other workshops and talks were led by representatives from Leprosy Mission, Sightsavers, and WaterAID as well as LSTM’s own Dr. Robert Harrison from the Alistair Reid Venom Research Unit

Professor Mackenzie said: “The aim of the meeting was to discuss how best to bring together wherever possible the definition and assessment of each of these diseases, their treatments and the preferred means of ensuring quality and success across the spectrum of these NTDs.  The meeting was a great success, bringing people together from most of the key players in the field, and the outcomes will be presented at the Annual NNNetwork meeting in Washington DC which will take place in September 2016.”