London Centre for NTD Research expands remit to become Global Centre for NTD Research

The London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research (LCNTDR) has officially transitioned to become the Global Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research (GCNTDR) – a move that reflects the Centre’s expanded ambition to directly support research institutions in endemic countries, strengthen national capacity, and foster country ownership in line with the global NTD roadmap, published by the World Health Organization.

Established in 2013, LCNTDR brought together leading London-based institutions—including Imperial College London, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, the Natural History Museum, and the Royal Veterinary College—to generate evidence for NTD control and elimination. Over the past decade, its work has contributed to a broader global movement catalysed by milestones such as the London Declaration on NTDs in 2012, which mobilised unprecedented partnerships across governments, academia, and industry.

The transition to the Global Centre comes at a critical moment for NTD programmes. The World Health Organization’s 2021–2030 NTD roadmap calls for a fundamental shift in how efforts are designed and delivered—placing stronger emphasis on country ownership, integrated health systems, and cross-sector collaboration.

In this context, the newly named GCNTDR aims to reposition itself not only as a centre of research excellence, but also as a partner that actively supports capacity strengthening in endemic countries. Under its new identity, the Centre will expand its focus in several key areas:

• Strengthening national research capacity by supporting institutions and researchers in endemic countries

• Supporting implementation science, including the evaluation of integrated NTD interventions within primary health care systems

• Advancing One Health approaches, recognising the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health in the transmission and control of many NTDs

• Advancing scientific knowledge on drug resistance and its relevance to NTD targets. 

  
  

This shift reflects a broader recognition that sustainable progress against NTDs depends on locally led solutions rather than externally driven programmes.

In a statement about the transition, GCNTDR Director Professor Joanne Webster said: “Transitioning to the GCNTDR reflects the Centre’s evolving membership over recent years and the growing demand from academic institutions in NTD-endemic countries for a platform to collaborate with leading partners around the globe and, importantly, strengthen the capacity of researchers in endemic countries. This transition will enable us to increase our impact by directly engaging research institutions in the countries where NTDs are most endemic and ensuring that those researchers have access to the highest quality training materials and emerging evidence from our global network of researchers.”

Recent global data show significant progress, with 58 countries having eliminated at least one NTD and hundreds of millions of people receiving treatment annually. However, important gaps remain in access to diagnostics, surveillance, and health system integration. Further efforts are also needed to intensify cross-cutting approaches—particularly through the adoption of One Health strategies that address shared risk factors across human, animal, and environmental health systems, as highlighted in WHO’s One Health companion document to the NTD roadmap.

The renaming to the Global Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research reflects more than a branding change – it marks a strategic evolution in how the Centre positions itself within the global health ecosystem. By aligning with the WHO roadmap and reinforcing its commitment to country-led approaches, the GCNTDR aims to help accelerate progress toward the shared goal of ending NTDs as a public health problem by 2030.