INTRODUCTION:
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affect more than 1.7 billion people worldwide, primarily in low- and middle-income countries. Despite their high burden, NTDs remain underfunded and receive fragmented research attention. Research priority-setting provides a systematic approach to align limited resources with the most pressing needs. Several NTD priority-setting exercises exist, but their findings remain unsynthesized. This study aimed to systematically review published research priority-setting exercises for NTDs, synthesize their methodologies, stakeholder involvement, and thematic priorities.

METHODS:
We systematically reviewed the studies published in PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and Web of Science up to March 28, 2025. Eligible studies were those that explicitly reported research prioritization for at least one WHO-listed NTD. Data were extracted on study design, geographic scope,and outcomes. Reported priorities were classified into six domains aligned with the WHO NTD Roadmap 2021–2030: health systems and service delivery, diagnostics and therapeutics, surveillance and data systems, community engagement and health education, integration and coordination, and equity, policy, and implementation research.

RESULTS:
Of the 1,678 records, 15 studies met inclusion criteria. Ten studies were mixed-methods and conducted with focus at country (n=5) or regional level. Six studies used Delphi framework. Fourteen studies engaged clinicians, policymakers, and researchers; care givers and patients were under representated Lymphatic filariasis was the most frequently prioritized NTD, followed by soil-transmitted helminths and schistosomiasis. Research priorities clustered around health system strengthening (6/15 studies), community engagement (7/15 studies), and equity-oriented implementation research (10/15 studies).

CONCLUSIONS:
Research priority-setting for NTDs has expanded in recent years but remains heterogeneous in methodology, stakeholder inclusiveness. Six cross-cutting domains of research priorities were identified across the studies, largely consistent with the WHO NTD Roadmap. The identified domains can guide WHO regional offices and national programs in updating research roadmaps, explicitly link priorities to policy and implementation pathways to accelerate progress toward global NTD targets.