$100,000 awarded for projects to increase access to dermatological care in under-served communities.

Five dermatologists working in low-resource settings around the world have been awarded $20,000 each as part of the International Alliance for Global Health Dermatology (GLODERM) Mentorship Programme, which aims to increase access to dermatological care in under-served communities. The new GLODERM x CeraVe Access Grants have been awarded by CeraVe to five individuals following their submission of successful proposals to run projects in their communities targeted at groups in particular need of dermatological care.

GLODERM is an official programme run the by the International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS) under its charitable foundation, the International Foundation for Dermatology (IFD).

The awardees selected for this first year of funding are as follows:

• Dr. Jose Ollague: Dr Ollague is a dermatologist at the Hospital General Guasmo Sur in Guayaquil, Ecuador.  His project involves the creation of a dermatopathological digital library to strengthen the clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic skills of dermatology residents at the hospital.
• Dr. Gaylord Inena Wa Inena: Dr Inena Wa Inena is studying for a PhD in Medicine at Kampala International Teaching Hospital in Uganda.  His project aims to facilitate access to dermatological care for people living with albinism in the city of Tshikapa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  The city currently has no medical staff trained in dermatology to care for people living with albinism.
• Dr. Marlous Grijsen: Dr Grijsen works at Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Indonesia (OUCRU ID). Her project aims to tackle the large, under-recognised burden of neglected skin diseases on the island of Sumba in Eastern Indonesia.  Sumba is one of the most remote and under-developed parts of Indonesia.
• Dr. Doriane Sabushimike: Dr Sabushimike is Albinism Outreach Program Lead at the Kamenge Military Hospital in Bujumbura, Burundi and Visiting Examiner for Advanced Diplomas in Dermatovenereology at the Regional Dermatology Training Center (RDTC), Tanzania.  Her project aims to create an outreach programme to support people living with albinism in Burundi. These individuals face societal stigma and threats to their safety from misbeliefs perpetuated within the community, leading to a higher disease burden.
• Dr. Yared Mekonnen: Dr Mekonnen is Assistant Professor of Dermatovenereology at the Haramaya University in Ethiopia.  His project aims to improve the quality of life for people with leprosy and their families in the eastern part of Ethiopia. The project will raise awareness of the disease in the community and train healthcare workers in leprosy prevention and management.

The GLODERM x CeraVe Access Grants provide for the commencement of each project in April 2024.

GLODERM connects dermatologists and trainees passionate about improving 'Skin Health for Everyone, Everywhere', with a focus on supporting resource-limited communities, locally and globally. Before submitting a project proposal, each applicant was required to complete GLODERM’s mentorship programme, which supports dermatology professionals to enhance care in under-served communities by helping them to build expertise in global health and dermatology and to develop strong leadership skills.

Commenting on the award of his GLODERM x CeraVe Access Grant, Dr Ollague said: “When I returned to Ecuador after finishing my training in the US, I felt that it would be almost impossible to make great advances to the dermatological field in Ecuador so when I heard that my project had been accepted, I was speechless. The grant will enable us to train future dermatologists to perform better clinicopathological correlations and apply physiopathology knowledge to therapeutics, making them better clinicians. It will be the first technology-based pathology training tool in the country and will advance the development of our future dermatologists significantly.”

“It was inspiring to see the calibre of applications received for this first year of the GLODERM x CeraVe Access Grants. Each of the selected projects will make a significant difference to the dermatological health of under-served populations," ILDS President Prof Henry W. Lim said. "We commend the recipients for their passion and wish them great success with their projects.

Prof. Lim added: "We are very grateful to CeraVe for its deep commitment to improving skin health around the world through its role as the main supporter of GLODERM and for providing the funding for the GLODERM x CeraVe Access Grants."

“We are honoured and proud to support these incredible changemakers to do the vital dermatological work that is required to provide access in each of their communities.  Following how their projects have evolved and how each grant recipient has personally developed throughout the mentorship programme has been inspirational.  These step-changing and much needed efforts will have far reaching impacts both locally and globally, " said Gene Colón, Head of Medical Affairs & Communications, CeraVe Global.

The ILDS has 214 member organisations from 103 countries and represents more than 200,000 dermatologists worldwide. It represents dermatology at the highest level through its ‘official relations’ status with the World Health Organization (WHO) and champions the importance of skin health to ensure its inclusion in global health policy.  It also works to raise awareness, cooperation and communication within the global dermatology community to promote high quality education, clinical care, research and innovation that will improve skin health globally.

Source: GLODERM press relesase.