Our most recent projects
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The Turing Foundation supports only leprosy control applications
related to scientific research, particularly into early diagnosis.
If your project meets our criteria, your application is most welcome.
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Our scientific research projects
 
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ENL Genomic Signature and Neutrophil Interventions, Brazilië, 2025-2028
Patients with lepromatous leprosy and borderline leprosy can develop a severe immunological complication known as Erythema Nodosum Leprosum (ENL). This reaction can affect patients even after completing treatment and may lead to nerve damage and dysfunction. To treat ENL episodes, immunosuppressive medications are used to suppress the excessive inflammatory response, often requiring prolonged use of corticosteroids and/or thalidomide. However, these medications can cause serious side effects.
Thalidomide is highly effective in alleviating ENL symptoms, often within a few days, but its teratogenic properties (which can cause birth defects in foetuses) restrict its use to people outside reproductive age. As a result, the drug is only approved for use in certain countries, such as India and Brazil. Although it is believed that the immune system-modulating effects of thalidomide make it effective in treating ENL, the exact molecular targets in ENL are not yet fully understood.
In recent studies, researchers have analysed how our genes respond to infections, with a focus on ENL. Genes from leprosy patients with and without ENL were compared, also with patients starting thalidomide treatment. Previously, the researchers studied the genes in skin lesions of ENL patients and discovered certain genes associated with a kind of white blood cell, neutrophils. Now, the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation aims to identify the opposite gene pattern, hoping that this will lead to new targeted treatments for ENL.
The researchers plan computer analyses to identify drugs that can influence these genes and will then test them in the laboratory using neutrophils from healthy people and leprosy patients, with or without ENL. By providing more insight into the progression of the disease and immunology, the research will contribute to the development of more effective treatment strategies for ENL. This will lead to a quicker start of treatment and better outcomes for affected individuals.
The Turing Foundation is contributing €86,619 towards this project (of which €27,000 in 2025).
See also:
ENL Genomic Signature and Neutrophil Interventions
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PUCP, Genetic susceptibility to leprosy and disease recurrence, 2025-2027
Development of a leprosy infection into the disease is strongly dependent on a patient's genetic makeup. Technological innovations have enabled DNA-related studies to successfully identify various candidate genes associated with leprosy transmission as well as with clinical manifestations of the disease, including the type of leprosy and the occurrence of leprosy reactions. However, only a few of these studies have focused on accurately identifying the actual causal genetic variants of the disease. Moreover, recurrence of leprosy (due to relapse or reinfection) is an under-researched phenomenon, despite its significant impact on healthcare systems. The research team has already identified many genetic variants with potentially strong effects on leprosy; they have also described a genetic profile that could indicate hyper-susceptibility in patients who have experienced recurrence of the disease. The next step is to validate these results in different populations.
In this project, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUCP) researchers will search for new genetic variants associated with leprosy and will verify these variants using a large sample of the Brazilian population. The researchers will analyse the impact of these variants together to describe a genetic profile that may make patients more susceptible to developing leprosy, even after a previous infection. Finally, they hope to contribute to the development of a genetic panel that can be used to monitor patients and their contacts, particularly in endemic areas.
The Turing Foundation is contributing €39,432 towards this project.
See also:
Scanning Electron Microscopy of M. leprae
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Contribution to the leprosy research department of Netherlands Leprosy Relief, 2025
The Turing Foundation has been co-financing projects related to the fight against leprosy with Netherlands Leprosy Relief for years.
On top of this, every year we also donate directly to Netherlands Leprosy Relief
as a contribution towards the overhead costs it incurs as a member of the Leprosy Research Initiative:
the international partnership for financing leprosy research.
Our 2025 contribution towards Netherlands Leprosy Relief's overhead costs has been set at € 20.000.
See also:
Bijdrage aan de wetenschapstak van de Leprastichting
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Evaluation of five transcriptomic biomarkers for leprosy, Colombia, 2025-2027
Approximately 400 of the leprosy cases reported each year in the world are from Colombia.
In this project of the Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical,
researchers in the five regions with the highest incidence of leprosy in Colombia are taking samples from cases,
their close contacts and people with other skin diseases.
They are researching how genes associated with leprosy - biomarkers - occur in both uninfected people and cases in
various phases of infection and disease. The results of this research will be used specifically for the further development
of diagnostic tests: the successful and technologically advanced tests used to diagnose leprosy.
This will make it possible to detect leprosy as early as possible, which will have a significant
impact on controlling and preventing the disease and on cases and their families.
This research is a partial continuation of research projects that the Turing Foundation has supported in the past (IDEAL follow-up and INDIGO).
The Turing Foundation is contributing € 154,815 towards this project (of which, € 38,000 in 2025).
See also:
M. Leprae bacteria
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COMBINE: Leprosy elimination by community screening & mass chemoprophylaxis, Kiribati, 2025-2026
Transmission of both leprosy and tuberculosis is through the respiratory tract and is greatly increased in places where many people live close together in poor economic conditions.
The Pacific Leprosy Foundation trial "COMBINE" in Kiribati (an island republic in Oceania) focuses on population-wide screening,
treatment and MDA chemoprophylaxis for both leprosy and tuberculosis. Patients with skin lesions potentially caused by leprosy are referred
to a specialised clinic for diagnosis and treatment. Patients with active or latent tuberculosis are also treated.
Everyone else is given SDR as prophylaxis for leprosy. GIS mapping of new patients means that the project will contribute
to a clearer impression of the local transmission of both leprosy and tuberculosis. The effectiveness and acceptance of
a combined approach will be clear by the end of the study, enabling the method to be applied in other countries where
tuberculosis and leprosy are highly endemic.
The Turing Foundation is contributing € 103,000 towards this project (of which, € 26,000 in 2025).
The Leprosy Research Initiative contributes the same amount.
See also:
PLF/COMBINE: Leprosy elimination by community screening & mass chemoprophylaxis, Kiribati
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Mobile suitcase lab for rapid diagnosis of clinical and sub-clinical leprosy, Bangladesh, 2025
Early diagnosis of leprosy is crucial for effective treatment of cases and preventing infection of their close contacts, who are the group most at risk. Microbiological diagnosis of leprosy outside well-equipped laboratories with specifically trained personnel is difficult. This project focuses on a reliable, simple and cost-effective rapid diagnostic test, which is easy to use and can be used on the ground.
A molecular diagnostic test, the ML-RPA test, has already been developed for this purpose. This rapid diagnostic test provides results within 20 minutes and proved very accurate in previous studies using laboratory-grown DNA. The test is conducted in a 'mobile suitcase lab' to research the effectiveness of diagnosis of leprosy cases and their close contacts on the ground. The suitcase lab is easily transportable, uses solar panels and a portable charger, and does not have to be cooled. The ML-RPA test is compared to an RT-PCR test (which is also a molecular diagnostic test able to detect the leprosy bacteria accurately). The results of the two tests are being compared and if the ML-RPA test shows comparable or greater accuracy than the RT-PCR test then it will be recommended for difficult cases and their contacts, especially in areas lacking a good laboratory.
The Turing Foundation is contributing € 30,000 towards this project.
See also:
M. Leprae bacteria
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LepVax: safety and vaccin-induced immune response, Brazil, 2025-2026
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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Dapsone Hypersensitivity Syndrome Biomolecular Predictive Test, Papua and Nepal, 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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Point-of-care tests for leprosy in South America, 2025
The Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) team has developed a simple diagnostic test in previous studies. This point-of-care (POC) test uses a finger prick to determine whether and to what extent someone is infected with leprosy. The test can be performed by primary health care workers without complicated laboratory techniques. The LUMC is going to expand the use of the POC test to populations in Brazil and Bolivia, and investigate how the test functions in a Latin American population. The results will be compared with the previous studies in Bangladesh.
This study builds on previous studies which received € 1,812,500 funding from the Turing Foundation.
The Turing Foundation is contributing €152,742 towards this LUMC project.
The Leprosy Research Initiative is matching this contribution.
See also:
Point-of-care tests for leprosy in South America
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Extra clofazimine for MB cases at high risk of ENL reactions, 2024-2027
Erythema Nodosum Leprosum (ENL) is a serious and very painful leprosy complication. The disease can be treated with the drug clofazimine. This research project aims to evaluate whether treating leprosy patients with extra clofazimin reduces the severity and frequency of ENL and whether it prevents nerve damage over a 24-month period.
The Bombay Leprosy Project research is being conducted in Bangladesh and India.
The Turing Foundation is contributing € 100,000 towards this project (of which, € 27,500 in 2024).
See also:
M. Leprae bacterie
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MetLep Trial: Metformin as adjunct therapy for MB leprosy, 2024-2025
Metformin is a cheap and safe medicine which has been used to treat diabetes for a long time. Research into tuberculosis patients, which is caused by a bacterium similar to leprosy, has demonstrated that metformin has a beneficial effect on the immune system. The IOCRL (Universities of Indonesia and Oxford Clinical Research Laboratory) is investigating the extent to which treatment of leprosy with metformin can reduce the degree and severity of leprosy reactions and prevent its consequences. The research is being conducted in Indonesia.
The Turing Foundation is contributing € 100,000 towards this project (of which, € 22,000 in 2024).
See also:
M. Leprae bacterie
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ENLIST Randomised controlled trials of methotrexate in Erythema Nodosum Leprosum, 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
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Role of drug resistance and M. lepromatosis in African leprosy transmission, Burundi, Cameroon, D.R. Congo, Ghana, België, 2024-2027
In a number of African countries leprosy is still discovered relatively late during which the disease has already advanced.
In addition, there is no research conducted in Central Africa to investigate the resistance to antibiotics in standard leprosy treatments.
Lastly, there are no insights into the possible presence of M. lepromatosis, a bacterium related to M. leprae that also causes leprosy.
Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp researches in Burundi, Cameroon, D.R. Congo and Ghana the presence,
quantity and resistance of the two bacteria at infected patients. The entire genome of the bacterium is being examined,
which may also enable new biomarkers to be found that could demonstrate resistance. The research provides insight into how
the bacteria changes and spreads.
The Turing Foundation is contributing €160,408 to this project (of which €42,416 in 2024).
The Leprosy Research Initiative contributes the same amount.
See also:
Role of drug resistance and M. lepromatosis in African leprosy transmission
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Leprosy transmission and One Health. Holistic investigation for environmental presence of Mycobaterium leprae, India, 2024-2027
Leprosy infections are known to spread from person to person, but leprosy bacteria have also been found in certain animals,
in water, and in the soil. Till date it is not clear whether contamination can also occur via these bacteria.
LEPRA Society - Blue Peter Public Health and Research Center
investigates the link between leprosy cases and their exposure to livestock, water and soil in four villages in India. If the presence of leprosy bacteria in open water, wastewater, soil and/or livestock is identified together with a link to the leprosy cases, a stronger strategy against leprosy and leprosy transmission can be developed.
The Turing Foundation is contributing €100,466 to this project (of which €35,078 in 2024).
The Leprosy Research Initiative contributes the same amount.
See also:
Holistic investigation for environmental presence of Mycobacterium leprae and its implications in leprosy transmission
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Immunomodulation by Mycobacterium Indicus Pranii (MIP) in MB leprosy, 2024-2026
Leprosy patients can be effectively treated with multi-drug treatment (MDT), but they are still susceptible to being reinfected with leprosy. It has been demonstrated that the MIP (Mycobacterium indicus pranii) vaccine can teach the immune system to activate an immune response when it encounters M. leprae. This process is called 'immune modulation'. The National Institute of Research in Tribal Health (ICMR) in India uses advanced techniques to investigate the cells involved in an immune response and the differences between MIP-vaccinated and unvaccinated patients. The research aims to better understand the underlying mechanism of immune response and immune modulation, and use the knowledge gained to fight leprosy more effectively.
The Turing Foundation is contributing € 94,000 towards this project.
See also:
M. Leprae bacterie
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