Report by Lara Payne, Imperial College School of Medicine and Joseph Fitchett, Royal Society of Medicine Students Group.

On 28 November 2009 we collaborated to arrange the 'Spotlight on Neglected Tropical Diseases' conference held at the Royal Society of Medicine. We were delighted that 150 delegates attended the event; the lecture theatre was packed to full capacity and was attended by delegates from as far afield as Belfast and Dundee.

RSTMH sponsored the meeting and in addition offered one year's free student Fellowship for all student delegates. As a result we now welcome 114 new student Fellows to the Society.

Dr Lorenzo Savioli (Director, Department of Control of NTDs, WHO) opened the day with an introduction to the concept of NTDs focusing on the current areas where progress is needed as well as examples of some successful initiatives.

Professor Simon Croft (LSHTM) and Professor Sue Welburn (Centre for Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh) highlighted new methods being used to improve prospects for the control of NTDs. Croft illustrated how simultaneous drug development can be implemented as a tool for rapid drug discovery while Welburn explained how zoonotic hosts are used in the treatment and control of human diseases.

The progress made in fields such as lymphatic filariasis was highlighted by Professor David Molyneux (LSTM) and Professor Moses Bockarie (Director, Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, LSTM). Professor Molyneux also stressed the importance of public health programme integration as well as rational targets for research that can be utilised in areas with low economic capacity.

Professor Diana Lockwood (LSHTM, HTD) and Dr Ingrid Muller (Imperial College London) advised caution with regards to rash statements and elimination targets.  They went on to discuss the on-going challenges posed by diseases such as leprosy and leishmaniasis.

Issues surrounding schistosomiasis, such as the need for regular treatment, and the importance of the new WHO treatment dose pole in assisting these public health programmes, were examined by Professor Alan Fenwick (Director, Schistosomiasis Control Initiative).

The environmental aspects involved in disease were explored by Dr Hannah Kuper (LSHTM) and Professor Sandy Cairncross (LSHTM). Trachoma and Guinea Worm were used as examples to demonstrate how a targeted approach has led to the decline of these diseases. Using Guinea Worm as an example, Professor Cairncross told the moving story of how the strength of community health programmes using practical recommendations have led to a near eradication of the disease and given other programmes a similar goal to work towards.

At the end of the meeting Professor Geoffrey Pasvol (Wellcome Centre for Tropical Medicine, Imperial College London) hosted a panel discussion with the audience. It was inspirational to see how delegates were so enthused by all the talks and there was a real feeling that students were encouraged by their peers to go out and make a difference in the field of NTDs.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the speakers who were the stars of this event and who made this day so successful.

We would also like to thank RSTMH and its CEO Gerri McHugh, whose generous offer encouraged the next generation of RSTMH members to get involved in the Society.

We wish success to those striving to alleviate the burden of NTDs and hope to encourage more activists to this cause for the benefit of those who are most in need.

Lara Payne (Chair, ICSMSU TropMed) and Joseph Fitchett (Principal Student, RSM Students Group).