Welcome to the Asian Neglected Tropical Diseases Conference (NTDASIA2025)

On behalf of the Organizing Committee and our co-organizer, the National University of Singapore (NUS), I am delighted to extend a warm welcome to all participants attending NTDASIA 2025 in Khon Kaen, Thailand.

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) continue to pose a major health, social, and economic burden across Asia, disproportionately affecting marginalized and underserved populations. Although significant progress has been made in the control of certain NTDs—such as lymphatic filariasis and rabies—many others remain overlooked in research, health systems, and policy prioritization. Their complex transmission dynamics, often involving animal reservoirs, environmental factors, and socio-behavioral determinants, call for an integrated, systems-oriented approach that bridges disciplines and sectors.

NTDASIA 2025 provides a regional platform to advance scientific knowledge, strengthen policies, and promote best practices in addressing NTDs through the principles of systems thinking, One Health, and EcoHealth. In alignment with the WHO NTD Roadmap (2021–2030) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3.3), the conference aims to foster transdisciplinary collaboration and to translate scientific evidence into sustainable, community-based interventions.

The conference will feature a diverse program of high-level policy dialogues, scientific sessions, and real-world case studies. Highlights include Systems Thinking for Global Health and its application to NTD elimination strategies; Advances in NTD Research from molecular mechanisms to epidemiological modeling; and Translating Science into Practice, featuring successful models such as the Lawa Model and regional fish-borne trematodiasis control. Other sessions will emphasize Innovation for Impact through AI-driven diagnostics, digital health tools, and One Health integration to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration among human, animal, and environmental health systems.

Once again, welcome to Khon Kaen—the vibrant heart of Northeast Thailand and a leading center for tropical disease research and community engagement. We invite all scientists, public health professionals, policymakers, and practitioners across Asia and beyond to join NTDASIA 2025 in sharing ideas, forging partnerships, and advancing collective efforts toward the elimination of NTDs and the achievement of sustainable health equity.

Professor Banchob Sripa

Chairman, Organizing Committee

NTDASIA2025