RNAS+: A win-win collaboration to combat neglected tropical diseases in Southeast Asia

Xiao-Nong Zhou, Nobuo Ohta, Jürg Utzinger, Robert Bergquist and Remigio M. Olveda

Presentor: Dr. Zhou Xiaonong

Dr. Zhou Xiaonong presented the history and development of RNAS+ (or the Regional Network for Research, Control and Surveillance on Asian Schistosomiasis and other helminthic zoonoses).

The network was first called Regional Network for research, control and surveillance on Asian Schistosomiasis (RNAS). It was initiated in 1998 and assisted by a collaborative research grant from TDR in 1999. The first RNAS working group meeting was held in Philippines in 2000. Dr Feng Zheng, former director of Institute of Parasitic Diseases was elected chair and and Dr Remigio Olveda, executive director of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in the Philippines, the co-chair.

The three stages that RNAS went through were described by Dr. Zhou as

1^st stage: Coming together is a beginning

2^nd stage: Keeping together is progress

3^rd stage: Working together is success