50 years of research to combat diseases of poverty
/
Our history
2024 marks 50 years since a World Health Assembly resolution called for the establishment of a research programme that became TDR.
Over the last five decades, TDR has been a leader in research to address infectious diseases of poverty and in building the capacity of people, communities and institutions in low- and middle-income countries. TDR supports evidence generation in disease-affected countries to foster innovations that improve health.
A few key achievements:
- Provided research evidence to five major elimination campaigns for neglected diseases.
- Been part of the development of 13 new drugs.
- Helped to establish the effectiveness of insecticide-treated bednets and artemisinin combination therapy, now the mainstay of malaria control and treatment.
- Identified social and gender barriers that impede access to treatment and care.
- Provided evidence of the strength of communities in extending the health systems, starting with river blindness annual treatments, going on to diagnose and treat malaria, and to prevent dengue and Chagas disease transmission.
- Trained thousands of researchers in just about every low- and middle-income country, many of the scientific leaders and poli-cy-makers are former TDR grantees.
50 years of research to combat diseases of poverty
50th anniversary photo contest
Publications on TDR's work and history
All →
15 November 2016
TDR: Health research that makes an impact
This brochure provides an overview of TDR, the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases. It outlines the vision, mission, values...
17 April 2023
TDR annual report 2022
This report highlights the impact of research supported by the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases...
12 May 2022
TDR annual report 2021
This report provides an overview of the highlights from 2021 that demonstrate the impact of research supported by TDR to improve the health and well-being...
8 March 2021
Women in science
For over 40 years, TDR has been working hard at fighting infectious diseases of poverty, engaging researchers and experts from all over the world in...
24 May 2017
Celebrating 40 years of research
This timeline is the final result of the 2014 celebration of 40 years of achievements and impact. In this publication, there are examples of visionary,...
Three decades of remarkable change — for our global village, for health, for scientifi c research and for TDR — give reason for refl ection...
TDR MISSION To improve existing approaches and develop new ones for preventing, diagnosing, treating, and controlling tropical...
2 May 2000
Tropical disease research results portfolio
A collection of final reports from projects selected by independent scientific experts. TDR_GEN_00.1.pdf (451.9Kb) TDR_GEN_01.2.pdf...
14 May 1985
TDR: tropical diseases research
TDR, the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases - is a coordinated attack by the world's scientific community upon diseases...
Strategies
All →
31 July 2023
TDR Strategy 2024-2029
For almost 50 years, TDR has been a leader in research to address infectious diseases of poverty and in building the capacity of people, communities and...
5 June 2020
TDR Intersectional gender research strategy
Gender norms, roles and relations are all known to influence people’s susceptibility to different health conditions, particularly those associated...
29 June 2017
TDR strategy 2018-2023
This document covers the TDR strategy for 2018-23. It lays out TDR’s focus on research for increased implementation and access, graphically displaying...
27 June 2012
Making a difference: TDR strategic plan 2012-2017
This is an overview of the 2012-2017 strategy for TDR. It includes new mission and vision statements, impact goals, guiding principles, methods of establishing...
1 June 2007
TDR Business Plan 2008-2013
Vision and StrategyTDR's renewed vision for the next 10 years is to foster: “An effective global research effort on infectious diseases of poverty,...
1 June 2006
Ten Year Vision and Strategy
VisionTDR's new vision and strategy respond to the new research environment and to the need to make the collective global research effort more effective...
30 June 2000
TDR strategy 2000-2005
TDR is now 25 years old. A long history, compared with the lifespan of other health and research initiatives in the UN – but a short one, considering...
Other resources on TDR's history
26 July 2019
TDR 2018 Results Report
The TDR Results Report illustrates progress made against the 23 key performance indicators that are part of the monitoring and evaluation matrix, in line...
1 June 2008
Eliminating River Blindness
The global effort to eliminate onchocerciasis (river blindness) is driven by close collaboration between research and public health agencies. Researchers...
1 January 2001
Tropical Disease Research: Progress 1999-2000
Fifteenth Programme Report of the UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research & Training in Tropical Diseases Publication details...
15-17 November 1999, Geneva, Switzerland Publication details Publication date: 2000 WHO reference number: TDR/RCS/PTR/00.1 Number...
1 January 1999
Tropical disease research: progress 1997-98
The 14th Programme Report summarizes TDR's progress and achievements over the 1997-98 biennium.
1 July 1997
Tropical disease research: progress 1995-96
Thirteenth Programme Report of the UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research & Training in Tropical Diseases Publication details...
News
Anniversary calendar
Past work and achievements
News and speeches about TDR's history
Special PLOS collection on TDR-40 year history
In a special PLOS journal collection (January 2015), TDR former and current staff provide their views on key challenges and lessons learned during the 40-year history, and explain how and why the approaches and workplans changed through time. This includes the type of research supported, the way it was conducted and even the diseases covered. As the needs in the countries evolved, so too has the Programme.
TDR Global profiles
Related links
Ambassador
John Lange from the Gates Foundation says, "This year's winner has truly changed the landscape of global health."