Portable Molecular Diagnostics for Emerging and Neglected Tropical Diseases: Innovations from CRISPR to Clinical Translation

Emerging and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) continue to threaten global health, disproportionately affecting populations in low- and middle-income countries where access to timely, accurate, and affordable diagnostics remains limited. While laboratory-based molecular techniques, particularly PCR, have transformed pathogen detection, their reliance on centralized infrastructure, sophisticated instrumentation, cold-chain logistics, and trained personnel has hindered widespread implementation in decentralized and resource-constrained settings.Recent advances in CRISPR-based diagnostics, isothermal nucleic acid amplification, biosensing technologies, microfluidics, and lyophilized reagent formulations have opened new opportunities for developing portable, rapid, and highly sensitive molecular diagnostic platforms. However, significant challenges remain in translating these innovations into clinically validated, scalable, and field-ready solutions that can support routine patient care, outbreak response, and disease surveillance.This Research Topic aims to showcase cutting-edge research that advances the development and clinical translation of portable molecular diagnostics for emerging and neglected tropical diseases. We welcome contributions spanning the entire innovation pipeline—from biomarker discovery and assay development to clinical validation, implementation science, regulatory considerations, and commercialization. Topics of interest include CRISPR-Cas technologies, lyophilized and ambient-stable diagnostics, integrated sample-to-answer systems, multiplex pathogen detection, microfluidic and lab-on-chip platforms, digital and AI-assisted diagnostics, smartphone-enabled readouts, wearable biosensors, and innovations that strengthen disease surveillance and outbreak preparedness.By fostering collaboration among molecular biologists, clinicians, engineers, public health experts, and industry innovators, this Research Topic seeks to accelerate the translation of next-generation molecular diagnostics into accessible, affordable, and sustainable tools for combating tropical diseases. The collection aims to support equitable healthcare delivery and strengthen global capacity for early diagnosis, surveillance, and control of both endemic and emerging infectious diseases. Topic editors: Kuldeep Sharma, Shubhankar Sircar Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/84604/portable-molecular-diagnostics-for-emerging-and-neglected-tropical-diseases-innovations-from-crispr-to-clinical-translation