In 2013, the Global Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research (formerly known as the London Centre for NTD Research) was established on the first anniversary of the signing of the London Declaration on NTDs, to facilitate reaching the ambitions set at the declaration, a pledge made in 2012 by governments, donor agencies, pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, non-governmental organisations, and other stakeholders in the international health community to collaborate in their efforts to control, eliminate and eradicate NTDs.
With funding from GlaxoSmithKline (2013–2024), the Centre served as an innovative research collaboration that brought together leading experts, and promoted the development of future experts, to conduct methodologically robust research to build an evidence-base around the design, implementation and evaluation of NTD programmes. The four founding members of the Centre were Imperial College London, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Natural History Museum and Royal Veterinary College; academic institutions with the highest concentration of NTD focused researchers in London.
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​​In 2022, under new Directorship, the Centre broadened its membership to include any individuals or organisations engaged in NTD research, recognising the importance of supporting institutions with smaller NTD research groups and those working in NTD research in the countries most affected. Subsequently, in 2026, the Centre rebranded to the Global Centre for NTD Research to reflect its expanded remit.
As the Centre moves into its next decade, with funding from philanthropic donations (managed through the RVC Animal Care Trust registered charity: RCN 281571), its mission and objectives have been aligned to correspond with the renewed targets and areas of focus set in the WHO NTD road map 2021-2030 and companion documents, notably incorporating the enhanced focus on a One Health approach to combatting NTDs inherent with the tripartite (World Health Organization-Food and Agriculture Organization-World Organisation for Animal Health).
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Learn more about specific GCNTDR activities here.
