Asymptomatic TB: How hidden infections spread and what to do about them
Official title: Asymptomatic TB Transmission, Infectiousness, and Immunology
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11584872 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in Nairobi, Kenya, will look at people who have TB bacteria but no symptoms to understand how infectious they are, what drives transmission, and how we can better detect and prevent spread.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | July 30, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $36,288 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AI200122-01S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11584872 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+ years) in Nairobi, Kenya, with asymptomatic TB or at risk of progressing to symptomatic TB.
✕Less likely to help
People without TB or those not at risk of progression may not experience direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to map how asymptomatic TB spreads in a real-world setting and identify who among those with the bacteria is most likely to transmit. It will collect data on host factors, immune signals, and biological markers to describe different disease paths from asymptomatic carriage to potential infectious disease. Researchers will study transmission patterns, disease trajectories, and possible cost-effective screening tools, all with an eye toward practical interventions in high-burden areas. The work is grounded in a setting with a high TB burden and involves adult participants who may contribute samples or enrollment information to understand infectiousness.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could lead to better screening and targeted interventions to prevent TB spread from people who feel well.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has identified asymptomatic TB as a potential driver of transmission, but detailed infectiousness profiles and practical screening tools remain limited.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Horne, David J. — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Horne, David J.
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.