December 3, 2025

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of tropical infections that continue to impose a heavy burden across Asia. These include, for example, dengue, foodborne parasitic infections (e.g., liver fluke), leptospirosis, and rabies. The complex transmission dynamics of the NTDs involve not only the animal hosts, but also the environments and human socio-behavioural factors. Addressing these complexities thus require the consideration of the social science dimensions of disease transmission, in conjunction with the biomedical approaches.

Supported by the NUS Office of Global Health Capacity Building Fund, Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Special Fund, and Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) Heads and Deanery Research Support Scheme, Associate Professor Wang Yi-Chen (NUS Geography), co-organized the Asian Neglected Tropical Disease Conference (NTDASIA 2025) with Professor Banchob Sripa, Tropical Disease Research Center, Khon Kaen University, Thailand. More than 120 participants from 21 countries attended the conference on 27-28 November 2025 at Khon Kaen, Thailand. Held under the theme of “Translating Systems Thinking into Real-World Impact for SDG2030”, the conference created a unique platform to strengthen regional partnerships and promote the translation of scientific knowledge into practical and impactful interventions across Asia.

The conference opened with a panel session featuring representative government officials and NGO health professionals from Lao PDR, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, and China, to discuss “Great Mekong Subregion Perspectives on Achieving SDG2030: Integrating NTD Control into National Action Plans.” With Assoc Prof Wang Yi-Chen as the session moderator, the panel shared their national progress, challenges, and opportunities for deeper regional collaboration. Although health system structures and epidemiological contexts differ across countries, the discussion revealed strong convergence on the centrality of evidence-based policymaking, multi-sectoral cooperation, and community engagement in accelerating progress towards the 2030 NTD elimination targets.

During the open discussion, several cross-cutting themes emerged. Funding was consistently identified as the most critical barrier to sustaining NTD control and elimination, particularly in countries that depend heavily on external donors. The audience raised the possibility of ASEAN-level pooled funding or regional manufacturing capacities for diagnostics and reagents to reduce long-term costs and improve sustainability. Cross-border transmission was another major concern. Panellists noted that mobile workers, unvaccinated dogs, transboundary livestock movements and shared river basins all contribute to the ongoing transmission of malaria, rabies, and helminthiases. Joint surveillance, harmonized protocols, and coordinated interventions were repeatedly emphasized as essential strategies within the Greater Mekong Subregion and the wider ASEAN region. Furthermore, all panellists agreed that community engagement must be placed at the centre of NTD elimination efforts. Whether for mass drug administration, vector control, water and sanitation improvement, or behavioural change campaigns, bottom-up approaches were viewed as more sustainable and more impactful than top-down instructions.

Panel discussion on “Great Mekong Subregion Perspectives on Achieving SDG2030: Integrating NTD Control into National Action Plans.” Top photo on stage from left to right: Dr Sopon Lamsirithaworn (Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand); Dr Dyna Doum (Technicial Officer, WHO, and Former Project Lead, BITE Project, HFO-UCFS, Cambodia); Dr Khampheng Phongsula (Director General, Lao Tropical and Public Health Institute); Dr Tin Oo (Deputy Director General, Department of Medical Research, Myanmar); Prof Lyn Shan (Deputy Director, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, China); Assoc Prof Wang Yi-Chen (Geography FASS, NUS).

Another featured session of the conference was the Early Career Scholar Presentation session, with the travel grant supported by the NUS Office of Global Health. The scholars first presented their work, then shared their views on the challenges and future directions of interdisciplinary NTD research in a panel discussion. Key highlights of the discussion included the opportunities for AI-based prediction and the consideration of human behaviour, land use, and community practices, particularly in researching zoonotic diseases. The scholars also appreciated the need to move beyond working in isolated “bubbles” within their specialized fields, whether clinical, laboratory, social, or environmental, and instead advocate for co-designed approaches that bring together diverse perspectives.

Early Career Scholar session. From left to right: Moderator, Assoc Prof Wang Yi-Chen (Geography, FASS, NUS); Dr Sunna Vyatra Hutagalungm (University of North Sumatra, Indonesia); Dr Sultana Parvin Habeebur-Rahman (University of Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia); Dr Woh Pei Yee (VinUniversity, Vietnam); Dr Thao Thi Bich Nguyen (Hanoi University of Public Health, Hanoi Vietnam).

The conference also included several other thematic sessions with multiple presentations. These sessions covered topics on advances in NTD research, digital health and NTDs, bridging the gap between research and reality, and One Health Systems. All sessions converged on a clear message: Traditional siloed approaches are insufficient to address the multifactorial nature of NTDs. Effective solutions require combining scientific, social, and technological knowledge, investing in health infrastructure and education, and ensuring that communities understand, trust, and participate in NTD prevention.