Projects in Nepal
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Dapsone Hypersensitivity Syndrome Biomolecular Predictive Test, Papua and Nepal, 2019-2025
Leprosy is treated with a combination of three drugs: dapsone, rifampicin and clofazimine. People with dapsone allergy develop what is called dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome (DHS). DHS is associated with skin disorders and organ failure, leading to the death of about 10% of DHS patients. The highest prevalence is found in east Asia. Earlier studies found a genetic mutation associated with a greatly increased risk of DHS. This study is investigating the use of a screening test which can determine whether someone has this genetic mutation. Leprosy patients who test positive will not be given dapsone, which will reduce the number of DHS cases. The Turing Foundation is contributing € 76,661 towards this project by the Microbiology Department, Institute of Health Research and Development, Papua. The Leprosy Research Initiative is contributing an equal sum.
See also:
 Dapsone Hypersensitivity Syndrome Biomolecular Predictive Test, Papua and Nepal |
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ENLIST Randomised controlled trials of methotrexate in Erythema Nodosum Leprosum, 2016-2024
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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Use of handheld ultrasound for the early detection of leprosy, India en Nepal, 2024-2025
Early detection of leprosy is important to ensure treatment starts before the disease progresses and other people are infected. Leprosy symptoms are now often diagnosed "by hand and eye" registrations. However, ultrasound scans provide a quick and more accurate results and is cheap. Nonetheless, this requires large equipment which is not available everywhere. American Leprosy Missions investigates whether a recently developed portable ultrasound device can detect leprosy symptoms as accurately (and possibly detect changes after treatment has started). The Turing Foundation is contributing €57,974 to this project (of which €36,699 in 2024). The Leprosy Research Initiative contributes the same amount.
See also:
 Use of handheld ultrasound for the early detection of leprosy, India en Nepal |