VALIDATE Vaccines for Skin NTDs Seminar: Social Aspects Part 2

About the Talks

Patient Involvement in Leishmaniasis Product Development: The Role of Qualitative and Mixed Methods

Dr Maria del Mar Castro Noriega, CIDEIM, Colombia

Dr Castro explored how qualitative and mixed-methods research could inform early-stage product development and implementation strategies for cutaneous leishmaniasis. She discussed approaches to identifying patient preferences, defining research priorities and understanding how communities experience the disease—insights that could guide the design of diagnostics and treatments that are acceptable, usable and effective in real-world settings.

Bridging the Gap: From Intervention to Impact Through Implementation Research and Social Innovation

Mrs Maria Isabel Echavarría, CIDEIM, Colombia

Implementation research and social innovation provide essential tools for ensuring that new interventions—such as diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines—translate into improved outcomes in practice. In this talk, Mrs Echavarría highlighted participatory, intersectoral and context-driven strategies that could help overcome systemic barriers, strengthen health systems and empower communities to co-create sustainable solutions for NTD control.

About the Speakers

Dr Maria del Mar Castro Noriega
CIDEIM, Colombia

An MD with an MSc in Epidemiology, Dr Castro has over 12 years of experience in clinical and implementation research on cutaneous leishmaniasis. Her work focuses on understanding disease determinants, evaluating the value of novel diagnostic and therapeutic products, and integrating patient preferences into product development and deployment. She has led studies in resource-limited settings and contributed to early-phase NTD product development as a WHO/TDR fellow.

Mrs Maria Isabel Echavarría
CIDEIM, Colombia

A microbiologist with an MPH in Global Health from the University of Washington, María Isabel Echavarría has extensive experience supporting health programmes in Colombia and promoting community-based research approaches. She coordinates regional implementation research capacity-building and leads the SIHI LAC Hub, fostering social innovation initiatives that support locally driven solutions for neglected tropical diseases across Latin America.