IPP associated member Anil Fastenau participated in the 12th EDCTP Forum held in Kigali, Rwanda, one of the leading platforms for global dialogue on clinical research and development for poverty-related and neglected infectious diseases. The EDCTP Forum brings together researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders from Africa and Europe to advance collaborative research and capacity-building efforts, focusing on achieving universal health coverage and equitable access to health innovations.

At the Forum, Anil Fastenau actively contributed to the initiation and presentation of the Satellite Session “Stopping Leprosy Transmission as Part of Integrated Skin NTD Approaches.” This session focused on the integration of leprosy interventions within broader skin NTD strategies, emphasizing cross-cutting programmatic approaches to enhance early detection and interrupt transmission sustainably.

Additionally, he participated in the Special Session on Neglected Infectious Diseases, sharing insights from field implementation experiences and discussing innovative strategies to advance research and integration of leprosy and other NTDs within primary health care systems.

Prof. Dr. Melanie B?ckmann

Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research

Department of Global Health

E-Mail: melanie.boeckmann@uni-bremen.de

Tel.: +49 421 218-68680