Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases

Working towards the control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) through world-leading translational research, from discovery to delivery.

Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease

Professor Mark Taylor, Head of CNTD

The Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases (CNTD) brings together a large and diverse group of initiatives focused on the challenges posed by a range of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

As a multidisciplinary centre, CNTD has extensive expertise across all NTDs, which builds on the strengths of all our NTD research: from drug and diagnostics discovery and development to delivery, evaluation and deployment into health systems to span the translational research spectrum. We work to identify critical bottlenecks in the field of NTDs through research and implementation activities, whilst evaluating alternative strategies to overcome the existing barriers and to improve strategies for their control and elimination. The diversity of our research and programmatic activities contribute directly to the goals of WHO’s 2021-2030 Roadmap and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

CNTD builds on the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine’s over 125 years of experience in NTDs to provide policy makers with scientific evidence and programmatic support to inform policies and guidelines and to measure the impact of our research outputs

What are Neglected Tropical Diseases?

Over one billion people from the world’s most disadvantaged and poorest communities suffer from at least one neglected tropical disease (NTD), which can significantly impact their physical and mental health. NTDs are markers, agents and drivers of poverty. 

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of 21 communicable diseases that prevail in tropical and subtropical conditions in 149 countries. They are identified as "neglected" because they persist exclusively in the poorest and most marginalized populations, living without adequate sanitation and in close contact with infectious vectors, domestic animals, and livestock.

NTDs stigmatize, disable and inhibit individuals from being able to care for themselves or their families - all of which promote poverty on a global scale. Individuals living in remote areas with limited access to effective health care are most vulnerable to NTDs and their consequences, such as malnutrition, anaemia, serious or permanent disability, illness and death. Effective elimination and control of NTDs can be achieved when several public health approaches are combined. Interventions are therefore guided by local epidemiology and the availability of appropriate detection, prevention and control measures that can be delivered locally. Implementation of appropriate measures with high coverage will lead to achieving the WHO NTD 2020-2030 Roadmap.

Our research programmes and consortia

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