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In this regular feature on Breakthroughs, we highlight some of the most interesting reads in global health research from the past week. Over the last ten years, the WHO has convened global partners to address the incidence and health impact of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). There has been clear progress, as countries have taken major steps toward combating increasing rates of NTD screening and treatment. Currently, all Latin American countries screen for the Chagas virus in their blood donors. African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) is on track for eradication, with under 3,000 reported cases per year. Nonetheless, the challenges surrounding eradication of all NTDs are apparent, with the majority of vaccinations and medicinal treatments coming in the form of donations to the poorest countries in the world. The WHO highlights these efforts in their 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which includes goals to achieve the eradication of all NTDs, but recognizes the challenges that hinder progress as politics and public health priorities shift. An estimated ten percent of children in Kenya are affected by tuberculosis (TB), with more fatal cases of TB occurring in children than in adults in Kenya who contract TB. However, a recent initiative to deploy child-friendly medicines (water-soluble pills rather than bitter pills) has been associated with an increase in child survival. Issues surrounding TB in Kenyan children include cases that are not diagnosed, leading to severe forms of TB—including tuberculous meningitis, which is incredibly debilitating. The Kenyan Ministry of Health has been open about obstacles and successes regarding TB treatment, and has urged parents to be a part of the process to get their children diagnosed and treated. Polio incidence has been at a historic low, and only Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan remain on the endemic list for the disease. Despite these levels being lower than they have ever been, new obstacles have slowed progress toward global eradication. These obstacles include a vaccine shortage and instability within the countries. The shortage of the inactivated polio vaccine currently affects 35 countries, and the supply will not be restored until at least 2018. The majority of polio cases in Afghanistan and Pakistan occur along the border, suggesting that there are geographic implications of the endemic. Nigeria, which was previously polio-free, had two cases of polio that set the country back. Pakistan is optimistic about eradicating the virus, and is launching a campaign to vaccinate over 37 million children. The CDC estimates over 300,000 individuals in the United States suffer from Chagas, a parasitic disease that causes irreversible heart damage. Mosquitos carrying Chagas currently live in 27 states and take up much of the southern United States, meaning many Americans living in the south are susceptible to infection. Early detection and treatment are necessary to combat heart failure, and US agencies like the CDC and FDA must work with urgency to treat this as a national public health issue.

Science expands our understanding, makes the impossible possible, and helps us build the future we want for all people. Science drives the work of our Global Health Technologies Coalition, so we wanted to take a step back to reflect on five ways science is transforming global health:1. Science is generating treatments, cures, and vaccines to tackle the world’s most devastating diseases.  From a vaccine that has put us at the brink of eradicating polio to antiretroviral treatments that have dramatically extended the lives of people living with HIV and AIDS, science has generated new health technologies that have driven tremendous progress in global health. Thanks to investments in science and research, 82 new vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, and other lifesaving global health tools have been developed and introduced since 2000. These tools include a new meningitis A vaccine—which has already saved 378,000 lives and prevented 673,000 new infections since 2010—and new child-friendly malaria drugs that have helped cut childhood malaria deaths by 65 percent since 2000. Science has also fueled a robust pipeline of over 670 global health technologies now in development poised to further build upon these gains.2. Science is helping us understand the unique needs of users and communities so we can design the right tools for impact. A scientist assembles a point-of-care diagnostic test. Photo: PATH/Dan ChangDriving progress in global health is not just about developing tools that work; it’s about developing tools that work for the communities and contexts in which they are used. A diagnostic test won’t help us identify and control an emerging epidemic unless it can be administered on the spot in remote communities and deliver results quickly. Likewise, a woman is not likely to adopt a new contraceptive or HIV and AIDS prevention method unless it’s easy-to-use, comfortable, affordable, and fits in with her lifestyle and culture. Through surveys, data analysis, diagnostics, and user testing, science is enabling us to study end users and the environments and social systems in which they operate. This helps us better understand the complexity of their unique needs and design and refine technologies to deliver the most effective solutions for impact.3. Science is helping us predict, detect, and track emerging health risks so we can be better prepared to confront tomorrow's challenges. From using weather patterns to forecast the risk of insect-borne disease outbreaks, to employing genomics and evolutionary theory to predict how bacteria will become resistant to antibiotics, to advancing new hybrid systems that combine crowdsourced data with traditional disease surveillance, science is helping us better predict, detect, and track infectious disease outbreaks and other emerging health challenges. Early detection can make the difference between an outbreak becoming an epidemic and is critical to mounting an effective response.4. Science is helping us understand what works and what doesn't so we can better target interventions and design health programs for maximum impact.  How often does an insecticide-treated bed net need to be replaced, and how many tears can it sustain before its stops working? In an era of limited resources, can we predict which technologies and interventions are likely to save the most lives in a country if brought to scale? How do we get people to change their handwashing habits to reduce diarrheal disease and childhood deaths? These are the questions big and small that scientists, data analysts, and other health researchers are working to answer in labs, offices, and program sites across the United States and world. The answers they get are helping us better target health solutions and refine health programming to more save lives and more dollars.5. Science is putting information and data at our fingertips to help us fight global diseases and health challenges in new and unusual ways. The revolution in mobile technology, digital health, and big data is transforming our approach to fighting global diseases and health challenges. Health care workers are using mobile devices to track immunization coverage door-to-door and monitor vaccine supplies to prevent stockouts, doctors are using SMS to remind patients to take their tuberculosis drugs and treatment adherence, and health ministries are deploying new data visualization toolsto turn a mountain of data into accessible and actionable information to guide decision on to best deploy and target resources.Science creates a foundation upon which improvements in global health are built. It unlocks discoveries and fuels innovation, informs policies and programs, breaks down barriers, and ultimately advances better, healthier lives for all people. At this moment in time, it is more vital than ever that we build a convincing case of the benefits that flow from science and the importance of strong investment in science and research.In global health, science matters because #scienceserves and science saves.

GHTC held a Game changers in global health game night on Capitol Hill to educate Congressional staffers about the impact of US leadership in global health research and development (R&D). Our guests ate, drank, played games, and learned a thing or two about how investing in global health R&D saves lives around the world, creates US jobs and economic growth, and protects Americans from disease threats. Here are some of our favorite photos: Playing "ROI: Return on Innovation" claw game to see the impressive rate of return generated by US investments in global health R&D.  I wonder what return this person will get for his dollar.     Discovering that global health R&D is a smart investment. It saves lives around the world, spurs US economic growth, generates cost savings, and protects Americans from disease threats.      Pulling a block from "Agency Jenga" to learn a fun fact about the important and unique contributions made by each US government agency involved in global health R&D.     Each US agency is vital to a strong and stable global health R&D ecosystem. If too many blocks are removed, the system could topple!     Playing "Striking out Disease" bowling to experience how changing funding levels for global health R&D impacts our ability to strike out the world's deadliest diseases. This player experienced funding cuts so was stuck bowling with a tiny tennis ball!       This player received an R&D funding increase, so she was able to bowl with the jumbo ball.       Attendees visit the "Gallery of Game Changers" booth to see, touch, and taste how American investment is generating game-changing global health technologies.     The International Partnership for Microbicides demonstrates how its dapivirine vaginal ring is inserted and can help women protect themselves against HIV and AIDS. The ring, which slowly releases the antiretroviral drug dapivirine, was shown to be effective in late stage clinical trials.     PATH shows off the Nifty Cup. This low-cost device, developed with support from USAID, helps babies born prematurely who struggle to breastfeed.     HarvestPlus shows off its naturally-bred, biofortified Vitamin-A orange corn, allowing attendees a chance to taste orange corn cookies and popcorn. This innovation is a sustainable, cost-effective way to combat malnutrition.     Jhpiego demonstrates how to put on a new Ebola personal protective suit it developed with support from USAID's Ebola Grand Challenges for Development.     This guest agrees. Investing in global health R&D should be an important priority for the US government.     Playing "Race for a Cure" to learn about the global health R&D process. It takes an average of 12-15 years to develop a vaccine. This player is racing to see if she can get her vaccine through all the stages of the product development process before the clock runs out.     Developing treatments, cures, and vaccines for the world’s most devastating diseases is not easy. Many challenges arise along the path from scientific discovery to lifesaving technology. That's just a part of the global health R&D process.     GHTC Director Jamie Bay Nishi talks about GHTC's mission and the critical role of global health R&D in addressing the world's most pressing health challenges.     Jamie Bay Nishi introduces Congressman Albio Sires (D-NJ), a longtime global health R&D champion and lead co-sponsor of the Global Health Innovation Act.     Congressman Albio Sires highlights how US leadership in global health R&D not only saves lives around the world, but also protects Americans from disease threats and generates US jobs and economic growth.     Congressman Albio Sires (D-NJ) checks out Jhpiego's Ebola personal protective suit.     Guests visit the "Does It Exist?" booth with a scenario card they received at registration to discover whether the vaccine, drug, or other health technologies needed to address the scenario exists. Despite tremendous progress in global health, we still don’t have the tools needed to diagnose, prevent, and treat many longstanding and emerging health challenges.     A guest spins the "Wheel of Progress" to receive a trivia question about a US agency involved in global health R&D.     Guests enjoy GHTC's signature color-changing cocktail "The Cure." It takes a drop of American ingenuity, a dash of investment, and a dose of partnership to discover the cure.     Attendees check out Jhpiego's Ebola personal protective suit.     Everyone agrees, game night was a hit!