World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Day, celebrated annually on 30 January, highlights the global effort to control, eliminate, and ultimately eradicate a group of diseases that continue to affect more than one billion people worldwide. These diseases primarily impact vulnerable populations living in conditions of poverty, limited access to healthcare, and social marginalisation, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. This global observance reinforces the priorities set by the World Health Organization (WHO), including strengthening surveillance, improving access to diagnosis and treatment, advancing research and innovation, promoting integrated and equitable public health interventions, and ensuring that no one is left behind. It also highlights the importance of the WHO Roadmap for Neglected Tropical Diseases 2021–2030, which provides a strategic framework aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end the neglect of these diseases by promoting universal health coverage, reducing inequalities, and supporting sustainable development. In this context, sustained investment in prevention, early diagnosis, scientific research, and equitable public health policies is critical. Addressing neglected tropical diseases is not only a matter of improving health outcomes, but also of promoting social justice, sustainable development, and the universal right to health, particularly for the most vulnerable populations.
Neglected tropical diseases comprise a diverse group of infectious conditions, including dengue, Chagas disease, human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, soil-transmitted helminthiases, and trachoma, among others. Despite the significant health, social, and economic burden they impose, these diseases have historically received limited attention and investment, perpetuating cycles of inequality and reinforcing their “neglected” status within global health and political agendas.
To mark World NTD Day, GHTM | IHMT NOVA will highlight throughout this week the different neglected tropical diseases studied by its researchers, showcasing ongoing efforts to advance knowledge, strengthen prevention and control strategies, and support evidence-based public health interventions. This thematic series begins with a focus on Chagas disease, one of the most emblematic and persistent neglected tropical diseases.
Chagas Disease: A Neglected Infection with Global Impact
Chagas disease is a chronic, potentially life-threatening parasitic infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and transmitted mainly by triatomine insects. This ancient neglected parasitic disease affects millions of people, primarily in Central and South America, where it remains a major cause of cardiac and gastrointestinal morbidity and mortality.
Although traditionally considered a regional disease, globalisation and increased international mobility have contributed to the spread of Chagas disease beyond endemic areas, making it an emerging public health concern in non-endemic regions, including Europe. The disease often progresses silently, with many infected individuals remaining undiagnosed for years, and existing treatments are limited, particularly for chronic cases.
GHTM Research on Chagas Disease
In response to these challenges, GHTM | IHMT NOVA researchers actively contributes to innovative research initiatives aimed at improving the prevention and management of Chagas disease.
GHTM | IHMT NOVA is a partner in the CRUZIVAX international consortium, funded by the European Union, which seeks to develop an innovative needle-free intranasal vaccine against Chagas disease. This ambitious project addresses a critical gap in the prevention and management of this long-neglected parasitic infection.
Preclinical studies conducted within the consortium have shown that the chimeric Traspain vaccine is capable of preventing infection, reducing disease severity, and protecting the heart — one of the organs most commonly and severely affected by T. cruzi. “With the potential to prevent new infections and help to treat chronic cases, this innovative vaccine offers an unprecedented immunomodulatory approach to fight Chagas disease, and gives renewed hope to vulnerable communities, particularly those facing social and economic disadvantages”, said Gabriela Santos-Gomes, researcher from VBD-GHTM Research Group and member of the consortium.
By combining scientific innovation with a strong public health perspective, the CRUZIVAX project provides optimism for populations vulnerable to Chagas disease, especially the individuals who also confront social and economic challenges. This work reflects GHTM | IHMT NOVA’s commitment to advancing research on neglected tropical diseases through international collaboration, contributing to more equitable and sustainable global health solutions.
Discover the latest findings and progress of the CRUZIVAX project on its website: https://www.cruzivax.eu/
This article is published as part of the World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day celebrations. To learn more about our work on neglected tropical diseases, see our related news:
World NTD Day: Decoding Leishmania from Dogs to Emerging European Vectors
Advancing Research on Helminth Neglected Tropical Diseases at GHTM
Sleeping Sickness: GHTM Research and Response on World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day
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