Research Priorities 2007 - 2010

In February 2005 the III Biennial NeTropica meeting was organized by UNAN Leon. During this scientific conference, satellite groups were formed in order to discuss the research priorities of NeTropica for the future (2007-2010).

The background was that a critical mass of scientists has been reached in Central America thanks to the bilateral programs mainly with Sweden, supported by SIDA, the different graduate programs in the region and the NeTropica Grants during the period 1999-2010.

This critical mass of scientists would now be in the position to start addressing regional health problems in the field of infectious diseases, committing themselves in the mid and long term to provide realistic approaches to solving these problems using a cooperative international scientific network.

Five priorities were selected by NeTropica, even though do not form an exclusive point of view, as a result of this exercise, which considered both the expertise of the network members and the relevance of the scientific problem for the region:

(i) snake toxin envenomation,

(ii) infectious diarrheas,

(iii) blood- and arthropod- transmitted viral diseases,

(iv) chagas disease and

(v) bacterial and viral zoonosis.

Further discussions within the satellite groups set up the grounds for a defined document, stating the scientific background for each priority and the strategy of NeTropica to address these issues in a coordinated manner.

The document, which is the main frame (though not exclusive) for any of NeTropica´s sponsoring activities (grants, events organization, etc.) is elaborated by different members of the network and is available for downloading here:

NeTropica Research Priorities 2007-2010.pdf