[health-vn] Science: neglected disease papers neglect rheumatic fever

[Vern Weitzel]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [procor] Science: neglected disease papers neglect rheumatic fever
Date: Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:27:05 -0400
From: David A. Watkins <david.watkins at duke.edu>
Reply-To: Global Dialogue <procor at list.procor.org>
To: Global Dialogue <procor at list.procor.org>

ASAP colleagues at the University of Cape Town weigh in on the first annual 
survey of "neglected disease" research funding, which evaluates the allocation 
of funds for diseases specific to developing countries: 
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000030. [*} The survey found that 
funders disproportionately emphasize HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria, and they brought 
awareness to the need for increased funding for other neglected diseases of high 
burden.

In the commentary below, we point out that the survey under-emphasized one 
important neglected disease with a high morbidity and mortality: rheumatic 
fever/rheumatic heart disease. This omission is understandable given their focus 
on technological interventions. However, we encourage neglected disease-funders 
to give more weight to interventions such as epidemiological research, 
prevention programs, and awareness-raising, where appropriate.

Citation: Watkins DA, Zuhlke LJ, Engel ME, Mayosi BM. Rheumatic fever: neglected 
again. Science 2009; 324(5923): 37.

The full paper can be found at:
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/324/5923/37b

David Watkins, Liesl Zuhlke, Mark Engel, and Bongani Mayosi
Department of Medicine
University of Cape Town
The ASAP Programme:  http://www.pascar.co.za/C_ASAP.asp

[* Moran M, Guzman J, Ropars A-L, McDonald A, et al. Neglected disease research 
and development: how much are we really spending? PLoS Medicine 2009; 6(2): 
e1000030.]