Tropical Diseases Circle the Globe

In an increasingly connected world, the health of each of us depends on the health of us all.

More than 1 billion people are currently affected by tropical diseases.

Get Curious

As global temperatures rise and disease proliferates, Scripps Research is discovering and delivering critical therapeutics.

A number of infectious diseases, such as malaria, dengue and Zika, thrive in the hot, humid climate of the tropics. These diseases impact some of the poorest populations in the world, particularly those living in rural areas and urban slums.

Many tropical diseases have historically been neglected in biomedical research, but at Scripps Research, we are committed to changing that. Our scientists are accelerating the development, testing and implementation of vaccines, diagnostics and drugs designed to save lives and improve the health and wellbeing of people around the world.

We are making rapid advances in explaining how malaria, HIV, Ebola, Zika and other pathogens infect and attack the body, helping guide next-generation vaccine and drug design. We are also using sequencing-based technologies to investigate how highly pathogenic viruses emerge and cause large-scale outbreaks.

While steady progress is being made, the global economic and social consequences of infectious diseases are enormous. Our scientists are dedicated to reducing the burden of disease among the most vulnerable populations in the world.

Tropical Diseases Feature

Innovative Therapies for Tropical Diseases

  • River Blindness

    Scripps Research scientists developed an inexpensive urine diagnostic to detect the parasitic worms that cause river blindness.

  • Childhood Diarrhea

    In repurposing a drug that treats leprosy, we delivered an effective treatment for childhood diarrhea, a life-threatening illness.

  • Malaria and Zika

    We discovered that a drug commonly used to protect pets from fleas and ticks also kills disease-carrying mosquitoes.

  • HIV

    In a worldwide collaborative effort, our scientists are closing in on the creation of an effective HIV vaccine.

Scripps Research scientists are working diligently to reduce the burden of disease among some of the most vulnerable populations in the world.

Join a community of people who believe in the power of science.