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Sexually Transmitted Diseases: A Hidden Epidemic in the United States and Beyond

The need to develop sensitive, specific, and more easily available point-of-care (POC) technologies for diagnosing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is critical. Five of the top ten reportable diseases in the United States are STDs. CDC data indicate that in 2018 in the United States, a combined total of nearly 2.5 million new cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis were reported. The global incidence of four curable sexually transmitted diseases (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis) is estimated at over 357 million cases. Many cases go undiagnosed and untreated.
Young people (ages 15-24) are particularly affected, accounting for half of all new infections. Some of these sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have the potential to cause serious health problems, especially if not diagnosed and treated early. Stigma, privacy, and confidentiality issues make STDs/STIs optimal areas for point-of-care tests at healthcare facilities and for over-the-counter tests performed at home.
Our Mission
At the Center for Point-of-Care Technologies Research for Sexually Transmitted Diseases, our mission is to develop and test the accuracy, acceptability, and optimal implementation of point-of-care tests for sexually transmitted diseases in diverse care delivery contexts both in the United States and in resource-limited settings.
Located in the Division of Infectious Diseases of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the Center brings together a dedicated and experienced group of faculty and staff who are committed to stopping the epidemic of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. In addition to personnel from Johns Hopkins, the Center includes scientists and staff from the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) and the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) in Kampala, Uganda. We are part of the Point-of-Care Technologies Research Network (POCTRN) which was created by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) in 2007. We are funded through a grant from NIBIB.
News and Announcements
New from the CDC: The CDC released updated STI prevalence, incidence, and cost estimates
January 2021
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new estimates that 1 in 5 people in the U.S. have an STI. Young people ages 15-24 are especially impacted. Read more about STI prevalence, incidence, and costs.
2021 Solicitation for Technology Developers
January 25, 2021
The Johns Hopkins University Center for Point of Care Technologies Research for Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) will not be issuing a solicitation in 2021. Instead, our Center is approaching companies who submitted applications for COVID diagnostics to gauge their interest in pivoting their platforms to the detection of STDs. If you submitted a RADx application which was reviewed and are interested in adapting your platform to STDs, please contact Joany Jackman at Joany.Jackman@jhuapl.edu regarding your interest so we can discuss ways in which we can support your development. Please provide your RADx submission number in your email.
Partnership with the Baltimore City Health Department
August 3, 2020
Our Center and the Baltimore City Health Department have partnered to expand access to HIV and STI testing through I Want The Kit. Read more about the partnership.
Mycoplasma genitalium and antimicrobial resistance
September 2019
Mycoplasma genitalium is more common than gonorrhea and has high levels of antimicrobial resistance. Read More.