Reflections on TropMed 2025, Key Events and Looking Ahead towards World NTD Day 2026
For the first time in its 100+ year history, the American Society of Tropical Health and Hygiene annual (ASTMH) meeting (AKA TropMed) was held outside of the United States, and lucky for us, it was in Canada! Within the months leading up to the ASTMH, we worked with organizers to support the conference in Toronto, ensuring greater Canadian participation and engagement. This has been a tough year for global health and neglected tropical disease programs – which have endured catastrophic hits to the funding needed to ensure continued progress is made towards preventing, treating and eliminating NTDs.
As part of the ASTMH this year, we were able to appreciate the many scientific program offerings across molecular science, social sciences, clinical trials and drug discovery, among others. It is impressive to see the diversity of work being done in this area of global health and the immense value of collaboration across geographic and disciplinary borders. Inspiring emerging leaders in global health to take up opportunities to contribute to global health research and implementation remains critical, especially within the context of divestment in global health and re-imagined terms of engagement.
From left to right, Jaimee Bay Nishi, Najiba Sardar, Fara Ndiaye, Margaret Reilly McDonnell, Alison Krentel, Sarkath Das, Jodie Curtis (off frame), ASTMH, Toronto, Canada, November 10, 2025
As we wrap up this year, I’d like to share some high-level take-aways from TropMed 2025 and other events that took place alongside:
Celebrating Achievements in Research and Elevating Emerging Leaders in Global Health
TropMed is a great forum for recognizing achievements in tropical medicine research, and our very own CNNTD NTD Research Award this year was also celebrated at TropMed. The winner this year was Dr. Moussa Sangare for his paper titled “Understanding the barriers and facilitators related to never treatment during mass drug administration among mobile and migrant populations in Mali: a qualitative exploratory study.” Dr. Sangare’s paper reminds us that quality research can still take place in contexts of insecurity and migration. It demonstrates the value of working towards better solutions for never treated populations who haven’t received a single dose of preventative treatment for NTDs. This award reminds us that Canadian institutions continue to make important contributions to advance NTD research.
Apart from research, TropMed also provided opportunities for mentorship on navigating academic and career goals in global health; building advocacy and communications into one’s work, and focused pop-ups shared the experiences of young investigators and emerging professionals. Neglected Global Diseases Initiative – UBC supported nearly 25 day-passes for Canadian-based emerging leaders to TropMed. Continuing to create spaces and opportunities for emerging leaders in global health is critical to securing a healthy future for all.
Group photo following an NTD Symposia at the ASTMH, with NTD collaborators and emerging professionals across Canada and globally. Dr. Moussa Sangare (5th from the right) holding the CNNTD NTD Research Award. Toronto, Canada, November 12, 2025
Collaboration for NTD Research and Development
Together we co-hosted a side event to TropMed with DNDi, “Driving Collaborative Research and Development for Neglected Patients Amidst a Funding Crisis.” Mulikat Okanlawon, of the Elysium Noma Survivors Association, opened the evening sharing her personal story and encouraging us to take action in solidarity with people affected by NTDs like noma. Her inspiring words grounded our event in the realities of people living with and affected by neglected diseases.
Our distinguished panel was moderated by Canadian health journalist André Picard and included: Dr. Osamu Kunii, Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund, Chaitali Sinha, International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Dr. Karlee Silver Grand Challenges Canada and Eric Easom, AN2 Therapeutics, with an opening by Dr. Alison Krentel and a closing by Delali Attipoe.
Speakers and Panelists from co-hosted event Driving Collaborative R&D for Neglected Patients Amidst a Funding Crisis, Toronto, Canada, November 10, 2025
The panel highlighted that bringing new and improved prevention and treatment tools to those people most affected by NTDs requires purposeful collaboration. With the unprecedented pressures that science and global health are facing, we need to demand new partnerships and ways of working to address neglected diseases. There are clear gaps in many areas of research and development for neglected diseases including screening and diagnostics; funding for clinical trials; and ensuring that the access and delivery of new tools for neglected diseases reach the communities that need them. Canada has an amazing capacity and opportunity to contribute towards scaling up country-led interventions to ensure they are sustainable, delivered at quality, and equitably address the needs of underserved populations. Partnerships are critical, and more joint funding is needed to ensure health service delivery. We were encouraged to “dream bigger” by Dr. Osamu Kunii, as we confront the current challenges and scarcity of resources. Innovation, new partnerships and diverse funding models provide opportunities to effectively address neglected diseases and to bring better solutions (both social and medical) to communities.
New Data Builds Momentum to Address Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS)
Many scientists, clinicians and government programs around the world have been collaborating to address FGS, a neglected sexual and reproductive health issue affecting an estimated 56 million women and girls in Sub Saharan Africa. The preliminary findings of the MAP FGS project were presented during ASTMH. MAP FGS is a Multi-country Assessment of the Prevalence of FGS in six countries (Tanzania, Senegal, Mali, Ghana, Nigeria, and Madagascar). Funded by the Gates Foundation, the purpose of the study is to generate population-representative data on the prevalence, severity, and co-morbidities of FGS. For the millions of women and girls affected by FGS in Africa, this new data and focus on FGS couldn’t come soon enough. Many live with undiagnosed and untreated infections for years, increasing their risk of infertility, ectopic pregnancy and HIV and HPV infection. We anticipate more MAP FGS results will be shared in 2026!
TropMed: Where no ‘Tropical’ Disease is Neglected
For the many Canadians who care deeply about NTDs, TropMed offered an opportunity for NTDs to take center stage, rather than be sidelined by broader health agendas. There were diverse sessions on Chagas Disease, Onchocerciasis, Leishmaniasis, and other vector-born NTDs. Each of these diseases on their own are complex in their continued evolution, geographical scope, prevention, treatment and management. Noma, the newest condition to be officially recognized as an NTD was featured in several symposia, and represented by many different specialties – epidemiology, microbiology, dentistry. Moreover, people affected by noma as well as other NTDs are currently being engaged in a way that has the capacity to be transformative: in advocacy, peer support, and in the research and programs that affect them. Canadians have led some key noma research and action, particularly through the Noma Action Group (NAG) at University of Toronto. We had the pleasure of attending a screening of Restoring Dignity in Toronto and Ottawa and hearing from noma advocate Mulikat Okanlawon, and filmmaker Claire Jeantet on their experiences creating and sharing the film globally.
From left to right, Deborah Ola, Mulikat Okanlawon, Tina Lines, Varsa Murugesu, Brianna Anderson, Claire Jeantet, Michael Olaleye at the UofT Noma Action Group film screening of Restoring Dignity, Toronto, Canada, November 13, 2025
Looking Ahead
Despite the challenges we currently face, research and development in global health and neglected diseases remain critical to our collective wellbeing. As a global community, we need to act with the courage and clarity that our current political and social environment demands. As we approach World NTD Day on January 30th 2026, there will be an emphasis on protecting the progress that has been made to eliminate NTDs to date (with more than 58 countries eliminating at least one NTD), accelerating action and partnerships, and continuing to focus on and support the people and communities that are the most affected.
