The Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI) has been given a $100,000 two-year research grant from the Heiser Program for Research in Leprosy and Tuberculosis of the New York Community Trust. This grant will be used to identify simple blood-based diagnostic tests for leprosy suitable for field use.

These anti-body tests will be easily portable and robust. They will be very sensitive and will allow a diagnosis in less than thirty minutes outside a laboratory setting. Tests will be conducted in Goiania, Brazil, and in Cebu City, the Philippines, collaborating with the Federal University of Goias and the Leonard Wood Memorial respectively.

“This grant will provide important information that can direct national leprosy control programmes and provide a foundation for effective elimination campaigns” says Dr Steve Reed, Head of Research and Development at IDRI.

American Leprosy Missions funded the research which enabled IDRI to collect the data which could lead to the development of rapid field tests, which are capable of detecting early infection by Mycobacterium M. leprae. It also supports Leonard Wood Memorial, a WHO approved collaborating centre.

IDRI is a non-profit biotech company, which focuses its research efforts on diseases in the developing world.

 

 

 

 

 

Category: Technical information