The United Nations University Biotechnology for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNU-BIOLAC) and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) have strengthened regional collaboration through the Open Chagas Workshop, focused on advancing drug discovery for Chagas disease and other neglected diseases.
Held in São Paulo and Campinas, Brazil, the workshop brought together 19 researchers from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay for an intensive programme of lectures, laboratory visits, practical sessions and networking. Participants explored key stages of the drug development pipeline, including target identification, screening, medicinal chemistry, pharmacokinetics, translational research and data analysis.
A central focus of the workshop was addressing the gap between promising scientific discoveries and the development of treatments that can reach patients. Although Latin America produces significant research on Chagas disease, many projects face challenges in progressing from early-stage discoveries to lead optimization and preclinical development.
Through its Open Chagas platform, DNDi is working to strengthen regional scientific capacity by connecting researchers with expertise, infrastructure and collaborative networks needed to advance promising discoveries. The workshop also created opportunities for continued mentorship and research partnerships among participants and international experts.
UNU-BIOLAC highlighted the contributions of the University of São Paulo, University of Campinas, DNDi and other partners in making the initiative possible. The collaboration demonstrates how regional scientific networks can accelerate innovation and support sustainable health solutions across Latin America and the Caribbean.
