Why attend?
Join us for an informative event showcasing the latest research and findings in the leprosy research field.
Interact & connect
Don't miss the chance to ask questions directly to leading researchers and connect with colleagues worldwide.
Open to All
This event is open to everyone interested in leprosy research and is completely free of charge.
About the event
The Leprosy Research Initiative (LRI) Spring Meeting is a key event for presenting and discussing the progress and results of LRI-funded research projects, serving as a platform for shared learning and networking. This year, the tenth annual LRI Spring Meeting will take place online on 9 and 10 April, 2025 (13:30-17:00 CEST). The programme features daily plenary sessions with keynote presentations, followed by project presentations in parallel tracks (Track A / Track B). Thirty-three LRI-supported projects will present their progress and (preliminary) findings.
Participation is open to anyone interested in leprosy research and is free of charge. Register today!
Programme
9 April 2025 13:30 to 14:05
Plenary - Words of Welcome & Keynote presentation
- Words of Welcome by Ms Linda Hummel and Dr Richard Truman
- Keynote presentation on the latest WHO developments in the Global Leprosy Programme and the process of developing the new WHO guidelines - by Dr Subbanna Jonnalagada
Ms Linda Hummel
Director | Leprosy Research Initiative
Ms Linda Hummel
Director | Leprosy Research Initiative
Dr Richard Truman
Chair | LRI Scientific Review Committee
Dr Richard Truman
Chair | LRI Scientific Review Committee
Dr Subbanna Jonnalagada
WHO Global Leprosy Programme
Dr Subbanna Jonnalagada
WHO Global Leprosy Programme
9 April 2025 14:10 to 15:05
Track A1: Operational research
Chair: Dr Patricia Deps
Co-chair: Dr Sunil Anand
- Assessing the effectiveness of Intensified Extended Contact Survey (IECS) to routine leprosy case detection in Bangladesh
- Setting an external quality assessment (EQA) programme for enhancing capacity building focusing to the microbiological tools used in the diagnosis of leprosy and the detection of drug resistance
- CapaBLe: Capacity Building for Leprosy
Dr Mahfuza Rifat
Damian Foundation Bangladesh
Dr Mahfuza Rifat
Damian Foundation Bangladesh
Prof. Emmanuelle Cambau
French National reference center for mycobacteria
Prof. Emmanuelle Cambau
French National reference center for mycobacteria
Dr Paul Tsaku
The Leprosy Mission Nigeria
Dr Paul Tsaku
The Leprosy Mission Nigeria
9 April 2025 14:10 to 15:05
Track B1: Disability
Chair: Dr Erik Slim
Co-chair: Ms Jannine Ebenso
- Removable off-loading devices versus total contact cast to promote healing of plantar ulcer in Leprosy: a non-inferiority, randomized control trial
- Personalized Footwear for Preventing Plantar Ulcers in Leprosy: A Community-Based Approach Using Baropodometry
- Establishing the effectiveness of a peer support approach based Basic Psychological Support for NTDs (BPS-N) to address mental wellbeing, stigma and social participation of persons affected by leprosy and LF in Jharkhand, India
Mr Karthikeyan Govindasamy
TLM Trust India
Mr Karthikeyan Govindasamy
TLM Trust India
Dr Michael Sukumar Pallapati
LEPRA India
Dr Michael Sukumar Pallapati
LEPRA India
Dr Arup Chakrabartty
NLR India
Dr Arup Chakrabartty
NLR India
9 April 2025 15:05 to 15:25
Break - Networking
Enjoy connecting and chatting with fellow attendees through the platform’s features.
9 April 2025 15:25 to 17:05
Track A2: Diagnostic tests
Chair: Dr Kate Dupnik
Co-chair: Prof. Jan Hendrik Richardus
- Evaluation of M. leprae specific RPA assay incorporated in mobile suitcase lab for rapid diagnosis of clinical and sub-clinical Leprosy in Bangladesh
- Point-of-care immunodiagnostic tests for detection of leprosy and Mycobacterium leprae infection in high & low endemic areas in the South American Amazon
- Evaluation of five transcriptomic biomarkers for leprosy in a Colombian population
- Seeking for immunological susceptibility markers for leprosy. Identification of SNPs in miRNAs binding sites and their role in immune response modulation in leprosy
- Thermographic assessment of autonomic innervation in Leprosy ‘TAIL project’
- Use of handheld ultrasound for the early detection of leprosy and evaluation of its value as compared to existing diagnostic tests
Ms Faria Hossain
ICDDR,B
Ms Faria Hossain
ICDDR,B
Ms Louise Pierneef
Leiden University Medical Center
Ms Louise Pierneef
Leiden University Medical Center
Ms Lina Restrepo-Rivera
Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical
Ms Lina Restrepo-Rivera
Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical
Dr Frederico Soriani
Federal University of Minas Gerais
Dr Frederico Soriani
Federal University of Minas Gerais
Dr Suraj Maharjan
INF Green Pastures Hospital
Dr Suraj Maharjan
INF Green Pastures Hospital
Dr Sujai Suneetha
Nireekshana ACET (AIDS Care, Education and Training)
Dr Sujai Suneetha
Nireekshana ACET (AIDS Care, Education and Training)
9 April 2025 15:25 to 17:05
Track B2 : Stigma & mental well-being
Chair: Dr Cassandra White
Co-chair: Dr Wim van Brakel
- Capturing culture-specific stigma dynamics by understanding ‘What matters most’ to inform (generic) measures to assess and approaches to reduce stigma
- Reducing Leprosy-Related Stigma Among Healthcare Workers in Niger
- Compassion training for reducing stigma and improving quality of care for persons affected by leprosy
- Assessing the effectiveness of family-based approaches aimed at prevention & sustainable self-management of disabilities, impacting the quality of life, mental wellbeing & participation of people with leprosy, podoconiosis and LF & their families
- Participatory development of audio-delivered interventions and written material and assessment of their impact on the perception and knowledge of and attitudes towards leprosy: A cluster randomised trial in Nigeria
- Addressing Leprosy Trauma Using the Traumatic Stress Relief Programme: An exploratory Trial with Persons with Lived Experience in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Ms Marlies Visser
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Ms Marlies Visser
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Prof Amina P. Alio
University of Rochester / TLM Niger
Prof Amina P. Alio
University of Rochester / TLM Niger
Mr Anil Kumar
NLR India
Mr Anil Kumar
NLR India
Mr Moges Wubie
Debre Markos University
Mr Moges Wubie
Debre Markos University
Dr Ngozi Murphy-Okpala
RedAid Nigeria
Dr Ngozi Murphy-Okpala
RedAid Nigeria
Mr Marekegn Habtamu
The Leprosy Mission International Ethiopia
Mr Marekegn Habtamu
The Leprosy Mission International Ethiopia
FAQs
Yes, you’ll need to fill out our registration form to gain access to the event. Please fill in the registration form with some basic information to get started.
The information you provide upon registration will only be used to establish you as a user on the platform and to create your login credentials. It will not be used for any other purposes.
Yes, this event is completely free to attend.
Yes, the vFairs platform is compatible with any computer or mobile device and any browser.
You’ll need a reliable internet connection, a computer or tablet, and an up-to-date browser. No special software is required; the event will run entirely through your web browser.
Yes, you can submit your questions through the event platform, and speakers will address them in real-time.
Yes, the sessions will be recorded and the recordings will become available later. However, we encourage attendance to the event so you can ask your questions via the Q&A chatbox during the live sessions. Additionally, there is the possibility of having a chat with other attendees and networking.
For questions regarding the event, please contact the LRI Secretariat: info@leprosyresearch.org
If you need technical assistance, please contact: leprosyresearch@getvfairs.io
