Table 1. Challenges and research priorities for Chagas disease.

Area	Challenge	Priority
Epidemiology	• Discordance among serological tests • Limited information of circulating parasite genotypes • Improvement in disease surveillance	• Identification of novel antigens and development of new diagnostic tests • Development of more sensitive genotyping tools for molecular epidemiology • Improvement in the evaluation of disease burden
Patient care	• Limited efficacy of current drugs • Efficacy of treatment difficult to assess • Access to treatment • Vaccine development	• Clinical trials of new drug candidates • Identification and validation of biomarkers of disease progression/cure • Strategies and policies for access to treatment • Strengthening of vaccine development
Pathogenesis	• Poor understanding of parasite dynamics within hosts • Limited understanding of the role of parasite diversity	• Strengthening of basic research on parasite dynamics • Large-scale studies of molecular epidemiology
Vector control	• Consolidating achievements where primary vectors have been controlled • Designing integrated vector control interventions for secondary and intrusive vectors • Limited sustainability of massive insecticide spraying	• Political commitment to sustain vector control • Better understanding of vector ecology and adaptation to human housing • Development of novel integrated interventions