American Leprosy Missions

#TBT to the 2024 OneAccord conference last week! It's always a blessing to be surrounded by other Christians in the #nonprofit space, collectively seeking how we can best serve God and others through our organizations. From plenary speakers to dinner conversations, OneAccord never fails to provide a rich experience! As our CEO, Bill Simmons, begins a term as Accord's Board Chair, we look forward to future opportunities to build this community. Much gratitude for the Accord Network family and for the conference organizers' efforts! #conference #worktravel #worktrip #bettertogether #workculture #bethechange #networking

We are excited to announce that we are initiating Phase 1b clinical trials of LepVax: the world's first leprosy-specific #vaccine! Five years after completing Phase 1a trials in the U.S., Phase 1b will be conducted by our partner in Brazil, FIOCRUZ - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, the most prominent institution of #science and #technology in health in Latin America. Every two minutes someone is diagnosed with leprosy, while four million people live with the lifelong disabilities and social stigma caused by this marginalizing disease. In contrast, recent models indicate that if LepVax is released between 2028 and 2040, we can interrupt transmission and prevent 823,000 new cases of leprosy-related disability! After decades of research and investment, we are stepping forward in this historic moment to #beatNTDs and achieve #zeroleprosy! Follow the link to see our full press release. Photo credit: Gutemberg Brito/Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC/Fiocruz) https://bit.ly/3Ya7Kma #NTDs #skinNTDs #research #health #immunizations #lab #internationalhealth #globalhealth Access to Advanced Health Institute (AAHI) Fundación Anesvad Damien Foundation DFnet Effect Hope FAIRMED German Leprosy and TB Relief Association (DAHW) Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund Leprosy Research Initiative The Leprosy Mission International NATIONAL HANSEN'S DISEASE PROGRAMS National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) NLR | until No Leprosy Remains Fondation Raoul Follereau Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Initiative

Gatherings like the “International Training Program on Leprosy for Developing Countries” remind us of the power of sharing research, best practices and new approaches in the fight to #beatNTDs. Together, we can achieve a world with #zeroleprosy! Thanks to Shandong First Medical University（Shandong Academy Of Medical Sciences）for hosting and coordinating this event. #bestpractices #research #science #training #NTDs #skinNTDs #globalhealth #conference

As part of our Leprosy Research Initiative -funded project with Nireekshana ACET in India and Lalgadh Leprosy Hospital and Services Center in Nepal, Nireekshana hosted a specialized training to equip participants with cutting-edge skills in ultrasonography to detect and manage leprosy. Nireekshana ACET is a pioneer in the use of ultrasonography with leprosy patients, and Dr. SUJAI SUNEETHA led this training. In recent years, leprosy researchers have explored advanced tools like high-resolution ultrasonography (HRUS) as options for early diagnosis. ALM is among those at the forefront of this work, integrating innovative technologies and methodologies to transform the landscape of leprosy care! Handheld ultrasound devices like Philips Lumify can detect nerve damage at an early stage, even before clinical symptoms manifest. Tools like this will enable a proactive approach, allowing people affected by leprosy to avoid long-term disabilities and enjoy a better quality of life. Read more about this project and the potential of ultrasonography in this report by ALM's Program Manager for Research and Innovation, Chriso Jaladi: https://bit.ly/4eDbjs9

We at American Leprosy Missions are pleased to share that Dr. Madhusmita Das (Chief Scientist at Hybrinomics Life Science & Diagnostics) recently led a specialized training session on Biomeme, Inc. qPCR technology at Nireekshana ACET in Hyderabad, India. This training was focused on the application of real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) using Biomeme’s portable platform for detecting Mycobacterium leprae DNA in skin specimens of individuals with signs and symptoms of Leprosy. Leprosy remains a public health challenge in many parts of the world, and early and accurate diagnosis is critical for effective management and control. Dr. Das’s training provided in-depth guidance on how Biomeme’s qPCR technology can be utilized to enhance diagnostic precision, offering a robust, rapid, and portable solution for resource-limited settings. This initiative is a crucial step towards strengthening diagnostic capacity for leprosy and empowering healthcare professionals with cutting-edge molecular tools to improve patient outcomes. We extend our gratitude to Nireekshana ACET for hosting this important session and to Dr. Das for her expertise and contribution to advancing diagnostics in neglected tropical diseases. #MolecularDiagnostics #qPCR #Biomeme #Leprosy #NeglectedTropicalDiseases #PublicHealth #NireekshanaACET #Hyderabad #InfectiousDiseaseDiagnostics #GlobalHealth New England Biolabs World Health Organization #SkinNTDs

What a blessing to be at the Lausanne Movement #L4congress last week, hearing about God's work around the world and connecting with colleagues and friends. We're proud to work with & through the Church to set people free from the pain & stigma of #NTDs like #leprosy.

We were excited to learn that the REDRESS project has been shortlisted for "International Collaboration of the Year" at the prestigious Times Higher Education Awards! #THEAwards REDRESS project, a 4-year research project led by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in collaboration with University of Liberia, Effect Hope and other partners, focused on empowering people affected by severe stigmatising skin diseases (SSSDs) in Liberia. The project utilized patients' experiences to inform health systems change, paving the way to improve support. Even now, the learning from REDRESS continues to have powerful effects in Liberia and beyond, including the TRANSFORM project we embarked on with Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Effect Hope and Fundacion ANESVAD in 2023. The Times Higher Education (THE) Awards attract hundreds of entries each year from across the UK and Ireland, showcasing the talent, innovation, and commitment of university leaders and teams. This year’s awards ceremony is taking place on 28 November 2024 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e2KTbtPu

Do you have experience with Christian organizations working in #globalhealth? Can you design comparison tools and present data in a compelling way? Are you excited by international partnerships? ... We want to talk to you! We're hiring a short-term consultant to help us identify new partnership opportunities with Christian institutions and organizations in 14 priority countries. Explore and apply today! https://bit.ly/3XoqZIe

Another piece by our senior NTDs technical advisor, Dr. Shyamala Anand, on the ocular NTDs photo database project in Leprosy Review ! Thanks to collaboration with Tropical Data, we were able to develop an ocular leprosy photo database. Now we're working with the ILEP Federation to make this an accessible tool for health workers and program staff. As these symptoms become more rare, resources like this are critical to equip those on the front lines serving people affected. https://lnkd.in/e_SuQS9d

The July InfoNTD newsletter is HERE!