The Carlos Slim Foundation conducts state-of-the-art research to combat the diseases that most affect the population of Latin America. To do this, they implemented two major strategies: the Slim Initiative in Genomic Medicine and the Alliance to Combat Neglected Diseases.
Slim Initiative in Genomic Medicine
Mexico has high percentages of the population suffering from diseases that have a genetic component. For example, 14 percent of the adult population suffers from diabetes and it is considered the leading cause of death in the country. An average of 80,000 deaths per year due to this condition is estimated.
Fight against neglected diseases
Around the world, there are close to a billion people who suffer from neglected diseases. The majority are poor and marginalized people who live in rural areas of developing countries, such is the case of Mexico. These diseases barely receive attention or resources despite their magnitude and impact, both on economic development and on the quality of life of said population. However, in recent years these diseases have aroused growing interest, both because of their impact on public health and because of the problem they entail in terms of human rights.
