Even though India has achieved leprosy elimination as a public health issue way back in December 2005, there are still pockets of endemicity where a number of new cases getting reported and the community is at higher risk of being infected with 'M leprae'. To address the issue, the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) will soon initiate multi-centric task force project researches in the country.
Dr Vishwa Mohan Katoch, secretary, department of health research (DHR) and director general, ICMR has taken steps to promote research in this area by funding projects on the priority areas of leprosy. The ICMR has called proposals for multi-centric task force project proposals in leprosy in the country.
The priority areas of research in leprosy include studies related to National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP), Epidemiological studies, Clinical Research, Operational Research, Basic research and Drug resistance studies.
In studies related to NLEP, the research will focus on health systems research & operational research on integration issues; studies evaluating current IEC strategies in increasing community awareness; studies addressing psychosocial issues for formulation of newer approaches to reduce the stigma, for encouraging early detection and completion of MDT; studies for encouraging early detection (through self reporting) and completion of MDT; and development of indicators for stigma at community level and evaluation of participation scale for wider use.
In the epidemiological studies, the research will focus on estimating trends/prevalence/incidence in India with special emphasis on biological reasons and genetics; behavioural and social factors influencing the epidemiology of disease; transmission dynamics of leprosy to identify sources/genotypes, its presence in soil and water and establish chain of transmission in endemic pockets; and study addressing issues related to changing profile of disease.
In clinical research area, the study will focus on clinical laboratory studies on complications of leprosy and its management; evaluating effect of newer anti-leprosy drugs/molecules; studies addressing leprosy relapse and reactions; detection of early bacteriologically positive multibacillary bacillary leprosy and its early management; use of immunomodulators in relation to leprosy and tuberculosis in children; and use of chemoprophylaxis in household contacts.
In the area of operational research, the focus of the research will be on the effect of inclusion of leprosy in a community based integrated rehabilitation disability care programme; research on disability prevention and identification of predictors of early nerve damage in leprosy; and identification of pre-clinical disease markers like nerve conduction tests, etc.
The focus of the research in Basic Research area will be on studies using genomics, proteomics and other approaches to understand the host-parasite interaction and pathogenesis of the disease; basic immunology; translational research including newer technology such for detection of M. leprae from environment; and tools to identify leprosy susceptibility.
In Drug resistance studies, the focus will be on resistance to anti-leprosy drugs.