Lisa Rotondo to chair global Neglected Tropical Disease NGDO Network

WASHINGTON— Lisa Rotondo, RTI International's director for the U.S. Agency for International Development ENVISION project, has been named chair of the Neglected Tropical Disease NGDO Network, a global forum for nongovernmental development organizations (NGDOs) working to control and eliminate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). 

Rotondo, a leading expert in trachoma control and elimination who previously served as the group's vice-chair, will serve as chair for a two-year period. RTI is a long-standing, active member of the Network, with RTI NTD senior manager Molly Brady also serving as Chair of its Lymphatic Filariasis NGDO Network. 

"I'm honored and privileged to lead a coalition that contributes in such meaningful ways to the global fight against neglected tropical diseases," Rotondo said. "I am thankful for the support, enthusiasm and trust of the Network's members and look forward to building on its many important successes."     

The Neglected Tropical Disease NGDO Network is composed of more than 60 separate NGDOs, large and small worldwide. The Network works in support of the World Health Organization and governments of endemic countries and supports the generation and dissemination of evidence-based practices to further progress towards control and elimination of NTDs.

As project director of ENVISION, Rotondo leads USAID's largest NTD project. In 2013-2014, ENVISION effectively treated nearly 79 million people at risk for NTDs in 11 countries. USAID recently awarded RTI a three-year extension of the project, increasing its ceiling by $175 million. 

 "On behalf of the Global Health Division at RTI, I'd like to congratulate Lisa on her appointment to this important position," said Richard Reithinger, Ph.D., vice president of global health at RTI. "RTI is a global leader in the fight against neglected tropical diseases. Lisa's new position with the Neglected Tropical Disease NGDO Network will allow us to play an even greater role in shaping and contributing to approaches and practices to improve the lives of more than one billion people around the world suffering from NTDs."  

In September 2016, RTI will host and sponsor the Neglected Tropical Disease NGDO Network's annual meeting in Washington, D.C.