1st Spanish-German Symposium on Tropical Dermatology · ISDT

Programme

Thursday, 2 October 2025

14:00 – 18:30: Check-in
19:00 – 21:00: Dinner

Friday, 3 October 2025

08:00 – 09:00: Breakfast
09:00 – 12:00: Free time / group activity to be planned
12:00 – 13:00: Lunch
13:30 – 16:00: Leprosy: Session I Introduction, epidemiology, transmission, classification, clinical manifestations, leprosy reactions and neurological aspects
16:00 – 16:30: Coffee break
16:30 – 18:30: Leprosy: Session II Diagnostics and laboratory
19:00 – 21:00: Dinner

Saturday, 4 October 2025

08:00 – 09:00: Breakfast
09:00 – 12:00: Leprosy: Session III History of Fontilles, treatment of leprosy and leprosy reactions, experiences from field work
12:00 – 13:00: Lunch
13:30 – 16:00: Lectures on skin-related neglected tropical diseases
16:00 – 16:30: Coffee break
16:30 – 18:30: Interview with former leprosy patients Buruli ulcer and closing remarks
19:00 – 21:00: Dinner

Sunday, 5 October 2025

08:00 – 09:00: Breakfast
09:00 – 13:00: Check-out

About the symposium

The first Spanish-German symposium of the ISDT was held in cooperation with the Fundación Fontilles, the national reference centre for leprosy in Vall de Laguar near Alicante. Under the title “Exploring the History of Leprosy in Fontilles: Legacy and Lessons”, it combined the history of the Fontilles sanatorium with an in-depth programme on leprosy and skin-related neglected tropical diseases.

Key facts

Date: 3–4 October 2025 (check-in from 2 October, check-out 5 October)
Venue: Poblado Fontilles 1, 03791 Fontilles, Alicante, Spain
Accommodation: within the Fontilles building complex
Cost: €50 per night and per person; included access to all sessions, coffee breaks and meals
Industry exhibition: none

Scientific leadership & coordination

Dr. Andrea Vanegas Ramirez (Bundeswehrkrankenhaus Hamburg, ISDT)
Dr. José Ramón Gómez Echevarría (Medical Director, Fundación Fontilles)
Marisa Moll (Administrative coordination, Fundación Fontilles)

About Fontilles

Since 1909, Fontilles has been home to thousands of people, most of them suffering from leprosy. A wall once separated the health complex from the rest of the world, turning it into a self-sufficient town. Today the non-profit foundation works worldwide against leprosy and its consequences, including in India, Mozambique, Malawi, Brazil and Bolivia. The projects aim at early detection, treatment, prevention of disabilities and the strengthening of health systems.

Getting there

By public transport, the journey leads via Ondara, for example by bus from Valencia or Alicante, or from Valencia by train to Gandia and onwards by bus. According to the programme, the roughly 18 km from Ondara to Fontilles had to be covered by taxi; alternatively, a rental car from the airport was suggested.