Drug Development

Sep 28, 2023
We couldn't let Lou depart without his own Poo Guru apparel. Photo: Allison Clifford.   It’s the end of an era for PATH and for the DefeatDD team. After 15 years at PATH, Dr. Lou Bourgeois, a well-known investigator in the field of enteric vaccine
Blog
Young Indian girl stands amongst other seated children
Mar 13, 2023
Photo: PATH.  Rotavirus has the potential to impact every child in every country, rich or poor, regardless of access to safe water and sanitation. But the majority of deaths from rotavirus occur in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia in
Blog
Cryptosporidium description
Jan 11, 2021
Although Cryptosporidium is now identified as one of the leading causes of diarrheal disease among young children, this is a fairly recent development. Cryptosporidium (or Crypto) was first recognized as a human pathogen in the 1970s, but it wasn’t
Blog
Infant girl receives oral rehydration solution (ORS) at a clinic in Cambodia.
Nov 23, 2020
The number of drug-resistant infections is growing worldwide. By increasing access to recommended tools to prevent and treat diarrhea—vaccines, oral rehydration solution (ORS) + zinc, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)—we can help slow the
Blog
Graph of baseline and additional child deaths
May 12, 2020
Although mortality rates for COVID-19 appear to be low in children and in women of reproductive age, these groups might be disproportionately affected by the disruption of routine health services, especially childbirth care and essential medicines,
Published research
Jul 17, 2019
Just the facts: these high-level talking points on diarrheal disease tell you what you need to know about the global crisis and the solutions. Each bullet includes a link to more information. View and share the message map or the plain text below
Message maps
Jan 09, 2019
An amino acid–based oral rehydration solution is among the potential solutions to heal gut damage. Photo: PATH/Amy Gottlieb.   Adapted from an article that originally appeared on PATH.org.   The global diarrheal disease burden comes with
Blog
Sep 12, 2018
Diarrhea: The good, the bad, and what you can do to help address this global crisis. Read the full message map, available in English and French.
Message maps
Sep 10, 2018
Between 2005-2015, child deaths from diarrhea plummeted by 30%. But we now know that the long-term consequences of multiple diarrhea episodes are severe. It isn’t fair that children be saved, just to lose out on a happy, healthy life.    We’ll
Video
Sep 10, 2018
In 2008 I started a job at PATH to promote a childhood vaccine against a nasty infection called “rotavirus.” I had never heard of rotavirus but immediately learned that it’s a major killer – responsible for more child deaths around the world than
Blog
Aug 22, 2018
Diarrhea. It is often the stuff of comedy, a dreaded first date woe, or an uncomfortable inconvenience after indulging in too much guac. Beyond the silly and the squeamish, though, there’s a more important story to be told: diarrheal disease is a
Blog
Jul 12, 2018
“Cryptosporidium is a leading cause of severe diarrheal disease in children under the age of five.”   Sep 16, 2016 DefeatDD
Blog
May 30, 2018
If you have blood type A, you may be more at risk of diarrhea from enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC). This finding was just published in a human challenge model study in the Journal of Clinical Investigation—and it has potentially widespread
Blog
Mar 01, 2018
The Cryptosporidium parasite is one of the leading causes of diarrheal disease among young children. This report shares highlights from PATH’s 2nd Symposium on Innovative Therapeutics for Cryptosporidium, where experts presented about the state of
Reports
Nov 19, 2017
Download this image for  Twitter or Facebook. Optional link: http://report.defeatdd.org/research/   Download this image for  Twitter or Facebook. Optional link: http://report.defeatdd.org/research/ 
Graphics
Nov 15, 2017
We need your help to make a stink about diarrheal disease and the solutions to defeat it: Create and share a Toilet Talk! It's like a one-minute TED Talk in a bathroom, and you can share it on social media using the hashtag #DefeatDD. Check our our
Video
Nov 09, 2017
Childhood diarrhea deaths have decreased, but children are still getting sick and infections are a major problem. Children who survive an episode but are faced with repeated infections are more likely to suffer from lifelong cognitive and physical
Reports
Illustrated image of Cryptosporidium parasite
Mar 20, 2017
This post originally appeared on the PATH Drug Development blog.    Cryptosporidium harms children—we need research and development to stop it.   A lot of ugly things in nature are relatively harmless (Exhibit A: the star-nosed mole)—but
Blog
Feb 13, 2017
The development of novel drugs to treat infectious diarrhea should help reduce the global burden and long-term consequences of diarrheal disease. There are very few drug treatments for specific diarrheal pathogens. In low-resource settings, diarrhea
Solution
#poohaiku
Oct 01, 2016
  Poo Haiku has a special legacy as DefeatDD’s first social media campaign and is undoubtedly a fan favorite. Whimsical, informative, and an open forum for all sectors to raise their voice, it is the epitome of what our team considers a successful
Article
Why is Diarrhea Dangerous Screenshot
Oct 01, 2016
This infographic walks you through the biology behind a key question: Why is diarrhea so dangerous, anyway? The danger is in the dehydration caused by a diarrhea pathogen (in our example, ETEC). Children are especially vulnerable to dehydration
Graphics
Sep 16, 2016
Superheroes and villains face off in the battle to DefeatDD! With their powers combined, Nutrition, Vaccines, WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene), and ORS + Zinc help children, families, and communities conquer the biggest bugs terrorizing towns
Video
Aug 29, 2016
Say sayonara to Star Trek because this summer's biggest blockbuster isn't playing at your local theater. The most compelling drama comes to you right here, as superheroes and villains face off in the fight to defeat diarrheal disease!   That sight
Blog
Dec 09, 2015
How are we going to save the 550,000 children who still die of diarrhea each year? It's a daunting question. While vaccines against the leading cause of severe childhood diarrhea are key to prevention, treatment should also remain an important focus
Blog
Sep 23, 2015
Every family across the world wants the best for their children.  But everyday dangers in their environment make diarrhea a common and serious threat: more than half a million children die from diarrhea each year, and millions more are hospitalized
Video
Sep 22, 2015
“The results communicate a clear message: We can choose a better future for the world's children.”   I love that sentence from UNICEF's most recent A Promise Renewed progress report. The fact that we have a choice makes two essential points: (1)
Blog
Aug 28, 2015
I consider it my life's mission to catalyze innovations and mentor startups that would help develop a cutting edge biotechnology industry for India and the world. This would simultaneously help solve some of India's pressing public health impact
Blog
Jun 18, 2014
  A few months ago, PATH's Drug Development blog provided an overview of the drug discovery and development process. What is very clear is that, while drug discovery is a very difficult and risky business, the potential benefit for millions of
Blog
Jun 02, 2014
If there was a way to save half a million children's lives every year, wouldn't you join that movement?   Get looped in to the global movement to defeat diarrheal disease.
Video