Contact: Matthew Prior, mprior@ncsddc.org, 570-878-3847

Washington, D.C. — A new report on the sexually transmitted infection (STI) treatment and prevention research “pipeline” points to serious gaps in the development of new tools to address a growing epidemic in the U.S.  The report, released today by Treatment Action Group (TAG), provides an assessment of the current research pipeline, identifies major deficits in innovation and research in this field, and calls for a major new investment in STI research.

“Despite a few promising advancements, STI research is nowhere near where it needs to be,” says Jeremiah Johnson, TAG’s lead author of the study.  “I hope this report is an eye-opener for people working not just on STI prevention but also other areas of sexual health. HIV advocates should recognize that STI research is integrally linked to their own success,” Johnson adds.

“NCSD was pleased to support this study and we wholeheartedly support TAG’s recommendations for an increased investment in STI research to answer major public health needs,” says David C. Harvey, executive director for the National Coalition of STD Directors. “Now is the time to increase funding at the National Institutes of Health for major new STI research initiatives,” Harvey adds.

“The TAG STI research pipeline report brings important visibility to the need for increased STI prevention, treatment and diagnostics,” says Barbara Van der Pol, PhD, president of the American Sexually Transmitted Disease Association, and a leading STI diagnostics researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. “We have made important strides in the STI research field, but nowhere near enough to keep up with the scope of the STI crisis here and around the globe,” Van der Pol adds.

The report is available here.