Outlook

Protecting intellectual property saves lives in the developing world, argues Paul Herrling.

Governments must help accelerate the development of drugs needed to treat infectious diseases in the developing world, say Bénédicte Callan and Iain Gillespie.

Brazil urgently needs to improve infrastructure for generating pharmaceuticals to alleviate the plight of its poor and marginalized populations, say Carlos M. Morel et al.

Improvements in basic infrastructure are the key to saving millions of lives each year, say Julian Lob-Levyt and his colleagues.

The culture of academia needs to change if scientists are to bridge the gap between research and the development of drugs and vaccines for neglected diseases in the developing world, says Declan Butler.

Differential pricing could make global medicines affordable in developing countries. But drugs for diseases that have no market in the developed world will require additional subsidies, says Patricia M. Danzon.

One billion people worldwide suffer from tropical diseases. Andrew L. Hopkins, Michael J. Witty and Solomon Nwaka explain how drug-discovery networks might be scaled up to address the lack of treatments cost-effectively.

What is holding back biotechnology in the developing world? Peter A. Singer and his colleagues listen to those on the ground.

Greg Bear glimpses the future of human reproduction.

Across the developed world, birth rates are plummeting. Is this just a social phenomenon, or is our biological fertility also declining? We don't yet know, and that is worrying, says Declan Butler.

Advances in reproductive medicine hint that female fertility might be extended into late middle age and beyond. But will the methods be safe? And is society ready for this demographic shift? Kendall Powell investigates.

During the past few decades, worries about environmental threats to human health have centred on the possible induction of cancers. Now risks to the male germ line, both real and potential, are also causing disquiet.

A child's genes are not all equal: in some cases, the copy from either the mother or the father is turned off. This affects the child's ability to acquire resources in the womb, after birth, and perhaps throughout life.

Contraceptive research is seriously in need of revitalization.

“It is high time we addressed the widening inequities that characterize our planet today. We need to focus our energies towards achieving basic healthcare for all.” Pascoal Mocumbi, former prime minister of Mozambique

The malaria vector is back in scientists' sights, says Janet Hemingway, with insecticides and transgenic insects offering fresh hope.

Creating a malaria vaccine will be tough. But Africa needs one now more than ever, says Stephen Hoffman.