Indian Association
of Leprologists

IAL Academy Announcements

Invitation: First International CME Webinar of the IAL Academy | 29 July 2026 | Scientific Programme

Dear IAL members and ILA / Leprosy Researchers/ ILEP Partners,

Greetings from the IAL!

It gives us immense pleasure to invite you to the First International CME Webinar of the IAL Academy, the academic arm of the Indian Association of Leprologists.

Theme: Leprosy in 2026: Clinical Challenges & Emerging Horizons

Date : Wednesday, 29 July 2026

Time : 7:00 PM IST onwards

Platform : Zoom [Link attached - will become active 30 mins before scheduled time]

Meeting ID : 826 1623 4423

Passcode : IAL

This inaugural international webinar has been organized by the Clinical & Therapeutics Leprosy Focus Group of the IAL Academy and brings together a panel of eminent national and international experts. The programme features a keynote address by Dr Vishwa Mohan Katoch ) Former Secretary, DHR ( MoHFW, GoI) & DG, ICMR), renowned faculty including Prof. Ben Naafs (The Netherlands) and Dr Chathurarya Siriwardena & Dr Indira Kahawita (Sri Lanka), and an interactive panel discussion on therapeutic dilemmas in leprosy.

The webinar is designed for dermatologists, leprologists, physicians, postgraduate students, researchers, microbiologists, public health professionals, National & International Leprosy Programme personnel, physiotherapists, rehabilitation specialists, and all healthcare professionals involved in leprosy care.

Participation is free, and we encourage all members to actively participate and benefit from the latest evidence, expert insights, and practical clinical discussions. Webinar access details are available in the programme brochure.

The final scientific programme is attached for your reference.

We request you to circulate this announcement widely among your colleagues, departments, institutions, and postgraduate students so that the maximum number of healthcare professionals can benefit from this academic initiative.

We look forward to your enthusiastic participation in making this inaugural international webinar of the IAL Academy a grand success.

With warm regards,

Dr Sunil Dogra - President LM/PJ/11/522

Dr Tarun Narang - Hon. Secretary General LM/PJ/15/918

Indian Association of Leprologists (IAL) 2026-2028

download brochure

The IAL Academy is the academic arm of the Indian Association of Leprologists (IAL), established to promote excellence in education, research, professional development, and evidence-based practice in the field of leprosy.

The Academy functions under the leadership of Dr P. Narasimha Rao (Chairperson), Dr Sujai Suneetha (Convener), and Dr K. A. Seetharam (Advisor), supported by a distinguished panel of coordinators, conveners, and expert advisors from across the country.

To facilitate focused academic activities, the Academy has constituted four Leprosy Focus Groups (LFGs):

Microbiology & Immunopathology

Clinical & Therapeutics

Disability Prevention & Rehabilitation

Policy & Programmes

These Focus Groups serve as collaborative platforms to identify knowledge gaps, promote multicentric research, develop educational resources, and formulate evidence-based recommendations in their respective domains.

The IAL Academy undertakes a wide range of academic initiatives, including:

National and international webinars and Continuing Medical Education (CME) programmes

Expert panel discussions and case-based learning sessions

Consensus statements, clinical guidelines, and position papers

Newsletters and educational updates

Collaborative and multicentric research projects

Mentorship programmes for young clinicians and researchers

Capacity-building initiatives for postgraduate students and healthcare professionals

Academic interactions with national and international experts in leprosy and allied disciplines

The Academy also promotes collaborations of IAL with governmental agencies, National Leprosy Programmes, academic institutions, ILEP partners, NGOs, international organizations, and professional societies to strengthen leprosy education, research, patient care, advocacy, and policy.

The IAL Academy is committed to fostering innovation, collaboration, and lifelong learning while supporting the Association's vision of Zero Leprosy through academic excellence and evidence-based practice.