Coordinator: Dr Aldo Morrone

The optimisation of clinical outcomes in oncological, inflammatory, infectious, and tropical dermatology requires new and adequately validated management approaches that include epidemiological surveillance, prevention, early diagnosis and appropriate prescribing. Against this backdrop, there is the urgency of organisational models and specific dermatogical training activities that respond to these needs. It's an achievable goal. For instance, the WHO has published a training guide for the recognition of NTDs and common skin problems (World Health Organization. Recognizing Neglected Tropical Diseases Through Changes on the Skin. A Training Guide for Front-Line Health Workers. 2018).

The promotion of preventive, clinical, and therapeutic strategies to fight dermatovenereological diseases – including rare and oncological diseases – requires epidemiological surveillance programs with careful monitoring of the prevalence and incidence of several skin diseases (melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, pemphigus, HIV and HPV infections, syphilis, etc.). Availability of increasingly accurate, replicable, and useful clinical and behavioural data to employ in clinical and translational research are a crucial requirement for good healthcare practices and evidence-based medicine, in the light of drafting national targeted guidelines. Research objectives include the validation of early techniques for particular types of skin cancer – such as melanoma and non melanoma skin cancer - the evaluation of the efficacy of new therapies and the feasibility of the use of quantitative imaging techniques for gradind inflammatory and dermatoncological pathologies through biomarkers.

The promotion of preventive, clinical, and therapeutic strategies to fight dermatovenereological diseases – including rare and oncological diseases – requires epidemiological surveillance programs with careful monitoring of the prevalence and incidence of several skin diseases (melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, pemphigus, HIV and HPV infections, syphilis, etc.). Availability of increasingly accurate, replicable, and useful clinical and behavioural data to employ in clinical and translational research are a crucial requirement for good healthcare practices and evidence-based medicine, in the light of drafting national targeted guidelines. Research objectives include the validation of early techniques for particular types of skin cancer – such as melanoma and non melanoma skin cancer - the evaluation of the efficacy of new therapies and the feasibility of the use of quantitative imaging techniques for gradind inflammatory and dermatoncological pathologies through biomarkers.

From a global health perspective, the major Skin NTDs are Buruli ulcer, cutaneous leishmaniasis, onchocerciasis, leprosy, Lymphatic filariasis, mycetoma, scabies and Yaws and affect millions of people in Africa, Asia and South America. The three primary ways of strategic interventions are early diagnosis, preventive chemotherapy and transmission control, and innovative and intensified disease management. In the last 5 years, phenomenal progress has been achieved. However, it is crucial to intensify research effort into NTDs, because of the emerging drug resistance. In addition the risk of their transfer through migratory flows must be well investigated to prevent the arising of these skin diseases as well as to ensure early detection and diagnosis. The new challenge is developing an integrated approach that also involves interdependence and promoting community education, relief from stigma, disease mapping and research and training.  

Goals:

• Validation of molecular techniques for the early diagnosis of dermatological infections with high community impact.
• Analysis of the prevalence/incidence of sexually transmissible diseases and of tropical infections.
• Diagnostic and therapeutic paradigms for the management and prevention of HIV and HPV infections.
• Validation of new methodologies to contain the level of radiations during patients' instrumental monitoring and follow-ups.
• National and international promotion of diagnostic, organisational, preventive, clinical, and therapeutic strategies to fight the spread of tropical and neglected diseases.