Shanghai, 1 September 2010 - The importance of innovation and technology in solving the problems of infectious diseases of poverty has been noted by the World Health Assembly, and in the strategies of the Millennium Development Goals.

In response to these challenges, the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) has established a Thematic Reference Group (TRG) on Innovation and Technology Platforms for Infectious Diseases of Poverty. The reference group is charged to obtain, evaluate and synthesize scientific information on global research activities, challenges and needs in research on innovation and technology to combat infectious diseases of poverty.

Thailand’s National Centre hosts the TRG for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) in Bangkok in collaboration with the WHO Representative Office in Thailand.The first meeting of the TRG on Innovation and Technology Platforms for Infectious Diseases of Poverty was held May 14-15, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand.

A second meeting was held on August 31-September 1 2010 in Shanghai, Republic of China. Prof. Dato' Dr. Mohamed Isa AbdMajid, Director-General of IPharm, was appointed as a WHO temporary advisor for this organization.

This second meeting of the TRG was followed by a stakeholder consultation on September 2, 2010. The stakeholder consultation brought together members of the TRG with national stakeholders and regional representatives of international agencies. The main objective of the consultation was to provide an overview of the scope, workplan and research needs and priorities identified by the TRG by highlighting current issues and public health challenges in innovation and technology for infectious diseases of poverty and to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to contribute to the framework of the TRG's planned activities and outputs.

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Last updated 3 September 2010