Why social science is important in the fight against neglected tropical diseases.

Social science research can be effective and its findings meaningful because it empowers communities and promotes their strong involvement in everything from identification of research questions, to data interpretation, to leadership in the development and implementation of interventions. This process ensures that there is sufficient community “buy-in” and ownership, which are key ingredients for effective and sustainable interventions. We must also strengthen the linkages and collaborations among local academic institutions, implementing partner organizations, and national NTD programs. By fostering these collaborations, we can ensure that context-specific strategies are evidence-based and relevant to programs.