AI-enhanced lung ultrasound for detecting tuberculosis in low-resource settings
Official title: Lung Ultrasound and Artificial Intelligence Technology for the Diagnosis of TB in LMICs
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11506691 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses portable lung ultrasound combined with AI to help detect tuberculosis in adults in low- and middle-income countries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | February 15, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $103,684 |
| NIH project number | 3R01HL168261-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11506691 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults (21+) with symptoms suggestive of pulmonary TB who present to participating clinics in low- and middle-income countries.
✕Less likely to help
People under 21, those with only extrapulmonary TB or no respiratory symptoms, or those not seen at participating sites are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
If you have symptoms that could be tuberculosis, clinicians would use a handheld lung ultrasound device to scan your chest while an AI tool looks for signs of TB in real time. The team plans to refine how scans are done and how much training operators need so the test works well in busy, resource-limited clinics. Early data suggest lung ultrasound finds many cases, and adding AI aims to make readings faster and more consistent across users. The work will be done at clinics in low- and middle-income countries with oversight from a Johns Hopkins research team.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could give faster and more accessible TB screening at the point of care, helping people start treatment sooner.
How similar studies have gone: Small preliminary studies showed lung ultrasound can be highly sensitive for pulmonary TB and the AI approach is promising, but large, well-powered trials integrating real-time AI remain limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gilman, Robert H — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Gilman, Robert H
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.