Pathologist, Biochemist, Activist

Dr. James H McKerrow works to develop innovative treatments for five neglected diseases. Pharmaceutical companies neglect these diseases because they exist outside the target market. These diseases – malaria, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis – also known as Baghdad Boil – African sleeping sickness, and Chagas’ disease – affect millions and millions of people. Parasites infect the poor. Parasites prosper in poor countries.

Dr. McKerrow obtained funding from a family foundation to purchase innovative machines doing a new style of research testing thousands of options at once. Checking existing drugs (shorter time to market) through the new system quickly resulted in a few promising treatment options.

Without economic inducements, the drug companies are not going to get directly involved. That didn’t stop McKerrow. With new systems of drug manufacturing emerging, Ireland, Puerto Rico, or India have capacity for developing the treatments.

African sleeping sickness and Chagas’ disease both may have new treatments, thanks to Dr. McKerrow. Two out of 5. Good start.

For more, read the NYT article (for $) at http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70E11FA395B0C758EDDAE0894DD404482&incamp=archive:search. This article posted on July 26, 2005.

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Dr. McKerrow used his talent, found a reasonable and specific action to take, and worked past the existing barriers to develop treatments that can change millions of lives. We honor Dr. McKerrow as a MAD Maven.