New Multimedia WEB site for TDR
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Source: tdr-scientists@who.ch
Colleagues,
On Friday 18 June 1999, TDR publishes it's new multimedia WEB site. The
site reflects both TDR's adaptability and commitment to reach and serve
it's varying target audiences, with a strong focus on all forms of
electronic communication - as detailed in the Director's introductory
message.
Andy Crump
TDR Communications
World Health Organization
mailto:crumpa@who.int
--
Director's message
Welcome to our new TDR website:
http://www.who.int/tdr/
As you may know, the World Health Organization - TDR's Executing Agency
- is undergoing a profound reform under the leadership of its new Di-
rector General, Gro Harlem Brundtland.
In synchrony with this process, we also have been very busy implement-
ing a variety of significant changes in our Special Programme. This new
site, on one hand, aims to inform our various audiences about these on-
going changes. On the other, we hope it will become an extended channel
of communication, allowing you to send us valuable comments and sugges-
tions.
TDR is now entering a new phase of activities, while at the same time
keeping its original goals intact - developing new tools for disease
control and strengthening research capacity in disease endemic coun-
tries:
- In October 1998 we received the report of the Third External Review
Committee - a true recipe on how to make a successful programme even
better;
- As we started implementing its recommendations, we realised that we
could profit from the enabling atmosphere of WHO reform to promote yet
additional changes in TDR;
- In March 1999, TDR's Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee
(STAC) enthusiastically endorsed our major proposals for shaping the
future of TDR, including an extension of its disease portfolio.
We are at a very important moment in the life of TDR. Although there
has been considerable progress in controlling some of the tropical dis-
eases in our portfolio - notably leprosy, Chagas disease, filariasis
and onchocerciasis - new threats have replaced the old ones and old
scourges reappeared: HIV/AIDS is devastating continents, malaria con-
tinues to impose its death toll, and dengue and tuberculosis have reap-
peared as global epidemics.
TDR cannot stay unchanged on the threshold of a new millennium.
This site reflects our new vision and horizons. It is intended to help
encourage and support researchers, partners and all those interested in
tropical diseases - no matter what their field of expertise - to join
us in this new phase of TDR. It contains information on TDR diseases,
research directions and outcomes, types of grants and application
forms, media resources and useful links to related sites. Navigating
through it you will read about the latest research developments and
find information about TDR's trainees, collaborating institutions and
all those partners whose contributions keep TDR at the forefront of
tropical disease research.
We value your feedback and will do our best to respond to the needs of,
and suggestions from, all our collaborators. We hope that this site
will become an indispensable resource for many - and a major tool to
help TDR achieve its goals in the fight against devastating tropical
diseases, which continue to ruin the lives of millions of people world-
wide.
Carlos M. Morel
Geneva, June 1999
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