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Since the process of scientific research is changing rapidly and becoming more complex, it is impossible for a single researcher or institute to bring all the expertise together to develop and validate medical innovations or to ensure their safety. Recent advances in novel and powerful technology have resulted in unprecedented new insights into mechanisms of disease development, host immune response, the aggressiveness of the pathogen to cause disease, and development of drug resistance. Thanks to those advances in knowledge and technology, several effective vaccines were developed and implemented in national immunization programs, which resulted in saving of millions of lives. In addition, the development of for instance medications against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has greatly reduced HIV-related disease and death. Despite several advances that resulted in significant reduction of infectious diseases, it still account for significant mortality and morbidity.

We are living on a crowded and interconnected planet, with a global population density expected to continue to grow to 9 billion people by 2050. The collective contribution of several advances such as safe water, adequate sanitation, antibiotics, vaccines and balanced nutrition programs have extended overall life expectancy, even in remote, underdeveloped settings. The resulting population growth has already contributed together with other inter-related factors such globalization, climate change and urbanization to the spread of dangerous infectious diseases. We must accept the fact that new viruses will continue to emerge and infections previously confined to one geographic location will more often spread globally.

Vaccines 

Vaccines have been a major advancement with millions of deaths prevented each year by vaccination. However, challenges lay ahead in expanding the availability of existing vaccines to those in most need, and the daunting task to develop of new vaccines for HIV, dengue and tropical viral diseases. We need to find solutions for many infectious disease challenges for which vaccines are not cost-effective such as less common neglected tropical viral infections. These all suggest that, even in resource-rich environments, we still need to make significant investments in combating infectious pathogens through advancements in science and policy.