Mary Sanders story (cont.)

This past November, Mary had the opportunity to work at the Instituto Dermatologico y Cirugia de Piel (Institute of Dermatology and Skin Surgery; IDCP) in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic (DR), with clinicians and laboratory personnel specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of leprosy. Together, they conducted a small-scale clinical trial in which a panel of promising Mycobacterium leprae-specific antigens were screened in a whole blood assay using samples from leprosy patients, household contacts of leprosy patients, TB patients, and other volunteers. The ultimate goal of this work is to develop a clinically useful, in vitro test for detection of infection with and/or exposure to M. leprae. This clinical trial is the result of many months of collaboration between CSU, IDCP, the Foundation for Peace (a local NGO working on community development in the DR), and representatives from Novartis Pharmaceuticals. Mary feels tremendously fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with individuals from each of these organizations, as well as with the many volunteer subjects who participated in this clinical investigation. Mary is especially grateful to her colleagues at IDCP for their hospitality, collaboration, generosity in teaching her about the clinical aspects of leprosy, and their truly unending patience with her questionable Spanish skills!