Lori Ferrins, Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Bouvé College of Health Sciences at Northeastern University, will speak about Global Health at the Crossroads: The Critical Role of Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) Research on Wednesday, October 1st, 2025, at 2:30 PM in the Singleton Auditorium at MIT Building 46. The seminar is part of the Towards a Better World: Enhancing Global Health colloquium series.

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affect over a billion people worldwide, primarily in low-income regions, yet they remain largely invisible in mainstream global health agendas. The absence of financial incentives has led to an innovation gap, leaving these diseases under-researched and under-treated despite their profound human and societal impact. This talk will explore the critical importance of addressing NTDs as both a scientific and ethical imperative. By highlighting the intersection of equity, innovation, and global collaboration, I will share insights from my own research in drug discovery for NTDs, including work with the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative. The discussion will emphasize the need for interdisciplinary solutions that draw on science, policy, and innovation, and will challenge us to reconsider what it means to build a more equitable world.