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Projects in 
Brazil
Brazil
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Project details
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ENLIST Randomised controlled trials of methotrexate in Erythema Nodosum Leprosum, 2016-2025
Erythema Nodosum Leprosum (ENL) is a serious and very painful leprosy complication. It is often chronic and causes serious morbidity, not only affecting the skin but also bones, joints, eyes, nerves, testes, and kidneys. Effective treatment for ENL is available but expensive, has considerable side-effects, and is often inaccessible in many countries where leprosy is endemic. Methotrexate is cheap and has been used all over the world to treat conditions like psoriasis since the 1950s. This medicine is possibly an effective alternative to prednisolone (the most widely used corticosteroid treatment for ENL). The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine will validate this by inviting patients with ENL in Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nepal and the Philippines to take part in a study where some patients are prescribed methotrexate, and others prednisolone. The Turing Foundation is contributing €350,000 towards this research (€25.000 in 2024).
See also:
 Randomised controlled trials of methotrexate in Erythema Nodosum Leprosum |
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LepVax: safety and vaccin-induced immune response, Brazil, 2019-2026
Researchers from the Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI), in collaboration with the America Leprosy Mission (ALM), have developed a leprosy specific vaccine called LepVax. This vaccine has both prophylactic properties (preventing leprosy) and immunotherapeutic properties (treating leprosy reactions). That means that LepVax should prevent further development of the disease, both deformities after infection and new infections. This study is focused on testing the safety of and immune response to LepVax. The project includes collaboration with a clinic for leprosy research in Brazil (FioCruz). The Turing Foundation has already contributed € 200,000 towards the earlier phases of this research, and is contributing € 175,000 towards this follow-up research. The Leprosy Research Initiative is contributing an equal sum.
See also:
 LepVax: safety and vaccin-induced immune response, Brazil |
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Comparative sequencing analysis of genes associated with susceptibility to leprosy and its reactive states, 2016-2017
Developing leprosy is highly dependent on the host's genetic risk factors. Molecular studies have been conducted to determine the genetic characteristics of leprosy patients. A number of candidate genes which are associated with susceptibility to leprosy and the development of leprosy reactions have successfully been identified. However, none of these studies have demonstrated which genes cause susceptibility to leprosy, nor which cause leprosy reactions. The Turing Foundation is contributing €21,334 towards this PUCPR project, which will map the six genes consistently associated with sensitivity with leprosy and leprosy reactions. They expect to describe rare and/or new varieties, providing more insight into leprosy susceptibility. In addition, the effect of these variants on the early detection of leprosy patients will be analysed. See also: Leprastichting: other projects  Comparative sequencing analysis of genes associated with susceptibility to leprosy and its reactive states |
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Research on treatment of early neuropathy in leprosy 2014-2017
The TENLEP Research Consortium (Treatment of Early Neuropathy in Leprosy) is a large international association in which 14 researchers from renowned research institutes all over the world work together, combining their expertise in the field of leprosy-related inflammation of the nerves. TENLEP Trial is a large-scale research project focussing on nerve damage caused by leprosy. Its central research questions are: 2. What is the most effective treatment for patients who have a clinical nerve function impairments?
See also:
 Scanning Electron Microscopy of M. leprae |
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Emergency aid in the Slum Area of Vila Cruzeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 2010
The IBISS foundation stands up for Brazil's most underprivileged groups. Children in slums are either hardly stimulated to attend school or are not given the chance to. The Preparar Vila Cruzeiro project by IBISS in Rio de Janeiro's notorious slum changed that. IBISS managed to offer all children a basic education so they could be sent to school. From 2007-2009, the Turing Foundation contributed the full costs of € 150,000 to the Preparar Vila Cruzeiro project. Although Brazil is no longer part of our geographical focus, since Rio de Janeiro's favelas have been gravely affected by the recent floods of April 2010, it has been decided to grant a one-time emergency donation of € 10,000 in order to save the successful youth centre Espaço IBISS in Vila Cruzeira. See also: IBISS: other projects  Slums in Rio de Janeiro |
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Education in the Slum Area of Vila Cruzeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 2007-2009
The IBISS Foundation stands up for the most marginalised groups in Brazil. In the slums children are hardly stimulated to go to school, or do not get the chance to do so. With the Preparar Vila Cruzeiro project in the infamous slum area of Rio de Janeiro IBISS tries to change this. On the renovated third floor of the IBISS building hundreds of children are received and educated or prepared to enter into a normal school. The Turing Foundation adopted this project in 2007 and in 2009 again finances the full project cost of € 50,000. See also: IBISS: other projects |
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