Research & Vaccines
A Legacy of Healing
Since our founding in 1906, Hope Rises International (formerly American Leprosy Missions) has worked to find new solutions to CURE diseases like leprosy, better CARE for those affected, and END these devastating diseases.
From pioneering leprosy drug treatment using diasone in 1946, to developing special farm tools and equipment for anesthetic hands in the 1970s, to piloting multi-drug therapy for leprosy with the Philippines Department of Health in the 1980s, to launching research into the world’s first leprosy-specific vaccine in 2002, Hope Rises International has continually sought new ways to create sustainable, positive impact for people affected by leprosy and related diseases.
We continue to accelerate the exploration and application of innovative solutions to heal suffering people and restore them to lives of dignity and hope.
Leprosy Vaccine
In 2002, American Leprosy Missions (now Hope Rises International) began a partnership with the Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI), now the Access to Advanced Health Institute (AAHI), to develop a vaccine for leprosy.
The following decades and more than $6 million investment have resulted in LepVax: a vaccine that finished Phase 1a clinical safety trials in healthy human volunteers and is headed into Phase 1b among people most at risk.
Laboratory Network in West Africa
Diagnosing neglected tropical diseases like leprosy and Buruli ulcer is challenging, often requiring weeks or months of lab testing—delays that can lead to lifelong disabilities. Inconsistent testing methods can even result in false negatives, leaving those in need without treatment.
That’s why, with your support, Hope Rises International (formerly American Leprosy Missions), the WHO, and the Pasteur Center of Cameroon launched the Skin NTDs Laboratory Network in 2019. Now the largest lab network in West Africa, it includes 13 labs across nine countries, ensuring fast, accurate diagnoses.
Since its launch, the network has processed 7,726 tests, bringing hope and healing to marginalized people suffering worldwide.
A breakthrough in the fight against drug-resistant leprosy
Hope Rises International (formerly American Leprosy Missions) and the Blundell Group Laboratory at the University of Cambridge have launched the HARP (Hansen’s Disease Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles) database, a groundbreaking tool for leprosy research.
HARP catalogs 80,902 possible mutations in key drug target proteins of Mycobacterium leprae, providing 3D models to help scientists and clinicians understand drug resistance. Previously, it could take up to 14 months to determine if a mutation caused resistance—HARP now delivers results in seconds, revolutionizing treatment strategies. This vital resource supports global research efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance and improve outcomes for people affected by leprosy.
NTD Innovation Prize
Hope Rises International (formerly American Leprosy Missions) launched the NTD Innovation Prize in 2019 to identify and support innovators with creative ideas to solve some of the most challenging issues posed by NTDs across the globe.
Between 2019 and 2023, we received 166 abstracts from around the world, resulting in over $181,000 awarded to eight projects.
Hope Starts With Healing
Right now, men, women, and children are suffering—isolated by disease, alone in their pain, and without hope. But together, we can change that.
From delivering critical medicines and supplies to equipping pastors with training and resources to care for their communities, we are reaching even the most marginalized people with the healing and hope they most desperately need. With your support today, Hope Rises!
