The National Center for Leprosy Control, China CDC (NCLC), located at the northern foot of Zijin Mountain in Nanjing of Jiangsu Province was formerly called the Central Institute of Dermatology and Venereology which was set up in Beijing in 1954 (the Institute is now named the Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science) directly under the leadership of the Ministry of Health (MOH). The main responsibility of the Institute at that time was to directly carry out and provide technical supports to the national programme of venereal diseases control.

At that time, there was not any professional institution to be responsible for leprosy control. Since the National Programme for Agriculture Development was issued in January 1956, the Institute has been involved in leprosy control work in the country, including participation in development of the National Programme for Leprosy Control. In 1957, the Institute was transferred from MOH to the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) which was founded in 1956 by MOH. Meanwhile a research team on venereal diseases, leprosy and tinea capitis was set up and Dr. Ma Haide was assigned the team leader. In 1959, while the Institute sent its staff to 8 provinces to carry out the ad hoc surveys and explore control strategies, the MOH established the National Committee of Research on Sexually Transmitted Diseases & Leprosy which was headed by Prof. Hu Chuankui. In May 1963, the Department for Leprosy Research was set up in the Institute and Dr. Ma Haide was assigned the first director of the Department. In 1970, the Institute moved to Taizhou City of Jiangsu Province. In 1978, the Institute was assigned to the Theme Group on Leprosy of the National Programme on Scientific Research by the MOH. In March 1982, the Institute became the national center for leprosy control, research, training and supervision. The Institute moved from Taizhou to Nanjing in 1984 and became the Headquarters for the National Leprosy Surveillance System in 1990 and the Secretariat of the Leading Group for National Programme on Leprosy Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation.

Approved by the MoH, the National Center for STD and Leprosy Control was set up in April 1994, which was based on integration of the previous National Center for STD Control and Research, Department for Leprosy Research and the Headquarters for the National Leprosy Surveillance System. The Center is based in the Institute of Dermatology to be responsible for leprosy control in the country, including technical supports, monitoring and evaluation, health education and professional training, surveillance system and epidemiological surveys, academic exchange, secretarial work of the National Experts Advisory Group of Leprosy Control & Research, and other leprosy work assigned by MOH. In January 2002, the Center was changed to the National Resource Center for STD and Leprosy Control and become one of national centers of China CDC, and continued to be responsible for leprosy control in the country. In May 2005, the National Resource Center for STD and Leprosy Control was renamed to the two centers, namely the National Center for Leprosy Control of China CDC (NCLC) and National Center for STD Control of China CDC (NCSTD) and the NCLC continues to fulfil its previous responsibilities.

With great contributions of several generations of leprosy workers in the NCLC, China has achieved its goal of elimination of leprosy since 1990s. However, although the incidence of the disease remains a very low level at national level, there are still some areas with a high endemic in China. Obviously, there is a long way to go for the NCLC to achieve the goal of “a world without leprosy” in China.

Director General: Prof Chen Zhiqiang
Executive Director General: Prof Zhang Guocheng

Contact information:
National Center for Leprosy Control, China CDC (NCLC)
12 JiangWangMiao Street
Nanjing (210042) Jiangsu Province
P. R. China
Tel: +86-25-85478902
Fax: +86-25-85478927
Email: postmaster@lepinfo.org
lepinfo@yahoo.com.cn