In September 2006, Professor Antonio Monge of the Faculty of Pharmacy delivered the opening speech of the academic year. Antonio Monge read his speech "Research and medicines. Cooperation: Challenge and opportunity for developing countries". Among other things, he provides the following information:

"In the last 25 years, the pharmaceutical industry has introduced 1,400 new entities. Of these, only 13 were for tropical diseases and 3 for the treatment of tuberculosis.

Ninety percent of global pharmaceutical sales are made in developed countries.

Ninety percent of the world's 14 million annual deaths from infectious diseases occur in developing countries. Approximately 2 million people die annually from tuberculosis. 5% in developed countries. Approximately 1 million people die annually from malaria. 90% in Africa. Between 10 and 20 million people suffer from Chagas disease in Latin America.

We must try to promote and support global activity in the study of these diseases. The objective is to provide greater support for basic and strategic research, improving coordination at the international level and creating platforms for clinical trials, while at the same time enhancing the capabilities of developing countries, which should participate in all stages of the research process. This participation must be sustained and must serve to train scientists and technicians from developing countries.

This speech was very well received. Academics, politicians and the general public were shocked and a special awareness was triggered towards the so-called neglected diseases that relentlessly plague the third world.

In October 2011, the University created the Tropical Health Institute. The Institute seeks to bring basic research closer to clinical application, in collaboration with hospitals and research centers in developing countries. Its objective is to find solutions for diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and control of diseases prevalent in these areas. It seeks to achieve an active participation of the host countries by collaborating in the study of the diseases suffered by their citizens, so that technology transfer can take place and help in the training of researchers.

Iciar Astiasarán
Vice Rector for Research
University of Navarra