Indian Association
of Leprologists

IAL Academy Announcements

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.