This interactive talk focuses on neglected diseases of poverty and the role that Minnesota students and researchers play in addressing them. While these diseases vary in their effects on human health, their common denomination is that they occur in countries with severe poverty and poor sanitation, where people have little political voice and little access to essential drugs. Their victims are often marginalized and “forgotten” by organizations and people with advanced technology, money, and influence. Our Soil Transmitted Helminths (STHs) research grew out of Muhammad Yunus' previous visit to Concordia College in 2008. We are investigating STH prevention in Bangladesh, assessing how knowledge, culture, awareness and tradition play a role in prevention and treatment. In addition, we are actively involved in laboratory research, in the designing, producing and testing anti-NTD vaccines.
