Writing in the Global Health Technologies Coalition’s (GHTC) “Breakthroughs” blog, GHTC Communications Officer Kim Lufkin summarizes a congressional briefing focusing on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). The briefing, held Monday, “focused on how the U.S. government has played a significant role in combatting NTDs globally through programs like those at [USAID], which has helped deliver more than half a billion treatments in six years to more than 250 million people,” Lufkin notes, adding, “At the same time, [Rachel Cohen of the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi)] and other panelists stressed that significant changes are needed to make U.S. NTD programs even more successful.” She continues, “[A]ll the panelists urged U.S. policymakers to become increasingly involved in an ongoing global discussion about how to redefine NTD research and product development efforts. All three of these changes — investing in NTD product development, expanded support for all 17 NTDs, and engaging in global discussions about NTD research — will help ensure that the U.S. makes the greatest impact possible against NTDs worldwide” (6/18).