SciDev.Net

Big pharma drug companies are striking deals with Asian drug researchers to secure the future of the drug industry.

The Maldives has launched a pioneering system for its citizens to bank primarily using mobile phones.

Vaccines for non-infectious illness could help developing nations tackle the growing burden of chronic disease. Maryke Steffens reports.

Abdallah S. Daar speaks to SciDev.Net about the Grand Challenges in Chronic Non-communicable Diseases initiative.

A low-tech clay water filter is proving successful in Sri Lanka, cutting disease levels and saving on fuel costs.

Indian scientist and journal editor Padmanabhan Balaram discusses open archives — an alternative to open access for science publishing.

Leading geneticist Samir Brahmachari explains why India should kickstart a new open source approach to drug discovery for diseases like TB.

Many factors are increasing antibiotic resistance, and authorities, doctors and patients all have a role in fighting it, writes Jia Hepeng.

Priya Shetty answers some common questions surrounding antibiotic resistance, and the dangers for the developing world.

Priorities for research into mental illness in the developing world are not the same as those in the West, writes Katherine Nightingale.

Climate change threatens food crops across the world. Now scientists are re-focusing their efforts on crop resilience, rather than yields.

An eminent Indian scientist believes India can close the urban-rural divide with information technology, writes Daemon Fairless.

Many Indians have pinned their hopes on the jatropha plant as a source of biofuel that doesn't harm food security, writes Daemon Fairless.

Current models cannot properly predict monsoon rainfall in Asia — or how it will be affected by global warming, writes Jagadish Shukla.

Learning Braille can be a formidable challenge in developing countries. Supriya Kumar profiles a new device that's addressing the task.

T. V. Padma takes a look at methods that are helping the developing world's blind people see again, and helping them live more easily.

India has experienced first-hand the delays and difficulties associated with developing a carbon credits market, writes Paroma Basu.

The Organization of the Islamic Conference is reforming its science programme. But will change lead to better science? Wagdy Sawahel and Ehsan Masood report.

The palm oil industry needs to prove its sustainability and is turning to scientists for ways to minimise harm, reports Richard Stone.

Scientists are finally getting nearer a dengue fever vaccine, as the disease explodes throughout South-East Asia.