WHO global research priorities for sexually transmitted infections.

Joseph Chukwudi Okeibunor, Joumana Hermez, Naoko Ishikawa, Jeffrey D Klausner, Firdavs Kurbonov, Ahmed Mandil, Maeve B Mello, Angelica Espinosa Miranda, Fausta Shakiwa Mosha, Somesh Gupta, Freddy Pérez, Nicole Seguy, Mukta Sharma, Tim Sladden, Barbara Van Der Pol, Peter J White, Teodora Wi, Sheela Godbole, Rodolfo Gómez Ponce de Leon, Gabriela Garcia Camacho, Xiang-Sheng Chen, Karel Blondeel, Laura H Bachmann, Adeniyi Kolade Aderoba, Laith Abu-Raddad, Erica Spielman, Sami L Gottlieb, Nathalie Broutet, Ismael Maatouk, Tania Crucitti, Kate L Seib, Remco P H Peters, Jason J Ong

Journal: The Lancet. Global health 2024;12(9):e1544-e1551

PMID: 39043199

Free Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are widespread worldwide and negatively affect sexual and reproductive health. Gaps in evidence and in available tools have long hindered STI programmes and policies, particularly in resource-limited settings. In 2022, WHO initiated a research prioritisation process to identify the most important STI research areas to address the global public health need. Using an adapted Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative methodology including two global stakeholder surveys, the process identified 40 priority STI research needs. The top priorities centred on developing and implementing affordable, feasible, rapid point-of-care STI diagnostic tests and new treatments, especially for gonorrhoea, chlamydia, and syphilis; designing new multipurpose prevention technologies and vaccines for STIs; and collecting improved STI epidemiologic data on both infection and disease outcomes. The priorities also included innovative programmatic approaches, such as new STI communication and partner management strategies. An additional six research areas related to mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) reflect the need for STI-related research during disease outbreaks where sexual transmission can have a key role. These STI research priorities provide a call to action for focus, investment, and innovation to address existing roadblocks in STI prevention, control, and management to advance sexual and reproductive health and wellbeing for all.

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Address: Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address: [email protected].; Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland; Global HIV, Hepatitis, and STIs Programmes, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland.; Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar.; WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo.; Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.; National Center for STD Control, Nanjing, China.; Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar.; Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland.; Indian Council of Medical Research-National AIDS Research Institute, Pune, India.; Latin American Center for Perinatology, Women's and Reproductive Health, Pan American Health Organization, Montevideo, Uruguay.; All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.; WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo, Egypt.; Kawasaki Settlement Clinic, CFMD, Tokyo, Japan.; University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.; Global HIV, Hepatitis, and STIs Programmes, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland.; WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo, Egypt; High Institute of Public Health, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt.; Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Ministério da Saúde, Brasilia, Brazil.; Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.; Foundation for Professional Development, East London, South Africa.; Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC, USA.; WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark.; Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.; WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia, New Delhi, India.; UNFPA, New York, NY, USA.; University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA.; Imperial College School of Public Health, London, UK; UK Health Security Agency, London, UK.

DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X(24)00266-3