Skin Neglected Tropical Diseases

This vocational master programme aims to provide participants with interdisciplinary expertise in the management of skin neglected tropical diseases (SNTD), which are infections caused by various pathogens affecting the skin (parasites, bacteria, fungi). Examples of SNTD include cutaneous leishmaniasis, leprosy, Buruli ulcer and scabies. Despite affecting millions of people and causing disabilities, these diseases receive little attention and funding, especially in poorer countries. However, they are globally present due to travel and climate change. The programme is geared towards providing participants with updated knowledge, understanding and practical expertise for navigating this domain, including by teaching them how to build strong scientific evidence for both clinical practice and research applications. There will also be insights on specific topics, such as ethnopharmacology, problems related to substandard medicines, and pharmacoresistance, with a focus on how they impact on skin neglected tropical diseases. Moreover, teaching will explore issues related to scientific research (such as the interpretation of evidence), policy-making (i.e. the establishment of guidelines), and the diagnostics and treatment of SNTD. The ultimate goal is to produce competent professionals able to work in clinical settings as well as to design effective evidence-based healthcare interventions.

The programme will start in the second semester of AY 2025/2026 and will be delivered entirely online, combining 144 hours of lectures (corresponding to 24 university credits, or CFU) with 410 hours of other forms of training (25 CFU).

To complete the programme, participants must take a 200-hour internship (8 CFU) and a final oral exam (3 CFU) focusing on the main topics covered by the programme.

The tuition fee for participants will be euro 6.000,00, including the insurance costs.