Drugs & Diagnostics for Tropical Diseases (DDTD) is a unique non-profit (501c3) venture based in San Diego, CA, with a mission “to discover new treatments and develop diagnostics for neglected tropical diseases and other diseases that affect impoverished populations”. These diseases have been typically neglected from research and development efforts due to the perceived lack of profitability.   

As part of their mission, they are developing easy to use, rapid, inexpensive diagnostics to detect infections for Neglected Tropical Diseases or NTDs. They are passionate about serving the needs of the underprivileged within their capacity as scientists and believe it is important to increase public awareness of the dire need to improve global health. The community’s resulting civic engagement can make an impact globally and DDTD wants to lead these efforts.

DDTD embraces the idea of eliminating diseases that do not belong in the 21st century. The first step towards eliminating a disease is the ability to detect it. Mapping diseases is critical for the World Health Organization (WHO) and its affiliates to initiate mass drug administration programs, allocate resources, monitor progress, and eventually verify elimination.