Virtual Meeting (Eastern Africa Time)
Download the list of abstracts
Tuesday, 2 November 2021
Opening Session
12:30-13:35
| Moderator | Dr Sultani Matendechero, Chairperson of the LEAP Advisory Committee (LAC), Ministry of Health, Kenya |
| Welcome and Introduction | Dr Monique Wasunna, DNDi, Kenya |
| Prof Muntaser Ibrahim, University of Khartoum, Sudan Prof. Samuel Kariuki, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kenya Rolland Kaya, Médecins Sans Frontières Eastern Africa, Kenya Dr Juliet Nabyonga-Orem, World Health Organization, Kenya Dr Bernard Pécoul, DNDi, Switzerland | |
| Keynote Speaker | Dr Margaret Anyetei-Agama, African Union, Ethiopia |
Session 1 – Leishmaniasis Prevention, Epidemiology, Vector Control and Elimination
13:35-16:00
| Chairs: Dr Alfred Mubangizi, Ministry of Health, Uganda Dr Mousab S. Elhag, Federal Ministry of Health, Sudan | |
| 13:45-14:00 | Towards Elimination of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Eastern Africa Dr Daniel Argaw, World Health Organization, Switzerland |
| 14:00-14:15 | Unmet needs in the knowledge of Vector Control in Eastern Africa Prof. Dia El Naiem, University of Maryland, USA |
| 14:15-14:30 | Structuring the political agenda for Leishmaniasis in Eastern Africa Dr Abate Mulugeta, Regional Office for Africa – World Health Organization, Republic of Congo |
| 14:30-14:45 | Prospects of visceral leishmaniasis elimination in Eastern Africa: applicable lessons drawn from Southeast Asia elimination initiative Dr Saurabh Jain, WHO-TDR, Switzerland |
| 14:45-15:00 | A concerted endeavour for elimination of kala-azar in Eastern Africa for 2030 Dr Carol Karutu, The END Fund, Kenya |
| 15:00-15:15 | The Global Vector Hub – building entomological capacity worldwide and improving epidemic preparedness Dr Frederik Seelig, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom |
| 15:15-15:30 | Discussion / Q&A |
| 15:30-16:00 | Poster Presentations |
Wednesday, 3 November 2021
Session 2 – Advances in R&D and access, diagnosis, and Treatment for Leishmaniasis
12:30-14:00
| Chairs: Dr Jane Mbui, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Kenya Dr Yaw Asare Aboagye, DNDi, Kenya | |
| 12:40-12:55 | Phase III PM/MF clinical trial – a more user-friendly option for children with VL Alexandra Solomos, DNDi, Switzerland |
| 12:55-13:10 | Opportunities in diagnostics and test of cure for VL in Eastern Africa Dr Henk Schallig, Academic Medical Centre, The Netherlands |
| 13:10-13:20 | Investigation of the interactions of some anti-leishmanial natural compounds with potential protein targets: an in-silico approach Abigail Adomako, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana |
| 13:20-13:30 | Capparis spinosa inhibits Leishmania major promastigote and amastigote growth through induction of Nitric Oxide production Dounia DARIF, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Morocco |
| 13:30-13:40 | Financial & Administrative Challenges in Clinical Trials Implementation in Resource Limited Settings: Experiences from DNDi sponsored clinical trials in eastern Africa Simon Bolo, DNDi, Kenya |
| 13:40-13:55 | Progress made on the VL Data Platform, and plans Dr Prabin Dahal, Infectious Diseases Data Observatory (IDDO), University of Oxford, UK |
| 13:55-14:15 | Discussion |
Session 3 – Current Advances in Cutaneous Leishmaniasis
14:15-16:05
| Chairs: Prof. Asrat Hailu, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia Dr Esther Kinyeru, Gilgil Hospital, Kenya | |
| 14:25-14:40 | CL in Africa Prof. Mourad Mokni, University Tunis Al Manar, Tunisia |
| 14:40-14:55 | Epidemiological situation of CL in Ethiopia Endalamaw Gadisa, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Ethiopia |
| 14:55–15:10 | CL: Asian perspective and effects on quality of Life Prof. Nadira Karunaweera, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| 15:10–15:25 | DNDi Efforts on CL Dr Byron Arana, DNDi, Switzerland |
| 15:25-15:35 | Q&A |
| 15:35-16:05 | Poster Presentations |
Thursday, 4 November 2021
Session 4 – Leishmaniasis: Basic Science, Translational Research and Vaccine Development
12:30-13:30
| Chairs: Prof. Eltahir Khalil Gasim, Institute of Endemic Diseases, University of Khartoum, Sudan Prof. Paul Kaye, University of York, UK | |
| 12:40-12:55 | Immunological determinants of chronic visceral leishmaniasis in HIV-coinfected patients Nicky de Vrij, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Belgium |
| 12:55-13:20 | Immunology of L. infantum and L. major infections Dr Thourya Boussoffara, Institut Pasteur, Tunisia |
| 13:20-13:35 | Immunology of PKDL and CL in South East Asia Prof. Mitali Chatterjee, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), India |
| 13:35-13:50 | Development of a centrin-based vaccine for VL Dr Angamuthu Selvapandiyan, Jamia Hamdard University, India |
| 13:50-14:00 | Q&A |
Session 5 – Special Session on the Impact of COVID-19 on NTDs and Training on Fundraising Tools in Africa
14:00-16:30
| Chairs: Prof. Yalemtsehay Mekonnen, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia Dr Irene Mukui, DNDi, Kenya | |
| 14:10-15:10 | Training: Key tools to raise funds for projects and organizations in Africa Karin Genevaux, Genoka Services, France |
| 15:10-15:20 | Q&A |
| 15:20-15:35 | Effects of COVID-19 on visceral leishmaniasis activities in Uganda Prof. Joseph Olobo, Makerere University, Uganda |
| Q&A: Open discussion on COVID-19 in Africa: Where are we, Lessons Learnt and What More Needs to be Done | |
| 15:35- 15:55 | COVID-19 in Africa: Where are we, Lessons Learnt and What More Needs to be Done Dr Mohammed Abdulaziz, Africa CDC, Ethiopia |
| 15:55-16:15 | Q&A: Open discussion on COVID-19 in Africa |
Session 6: Closing Session
16:15-16:30
| Worldleish7 Update | Prof. Ivan D. Velez, Universidad de Antiqioquia, Colombia |
| Wrap up and Close of Conference | Dr Jorge Alvar, DNDi, Switzerland |