Automated chest X-ray reading for childhood TB (AI tools to help diagnose kids)
Official title: The development and expansion of automated chest x-ray reading algorithms for childhood tuberculosis
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11565145 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new AI tool helps doctors read chest X-rays to better detect tuberculosis in children, including those with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $36,196 |
| NIH project number | 3R01HL184914-01S3 |
| Project ID | NIH-11565145 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and adolescents suspected of having tuberculosis, including those with HIV, who would benefit from improved chest X-ray interpretation.
✕Less likely to help
Children without TB or with CXRs that are clearly normal or unrelated findings may receive no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to adapt and test computer-aided detection software to read pediatric chest X-rays more accurately for diagnosing and managing tuberculosis in children. It will fine-tune existing AI models on pediatric images and evaluate their performance in screening, diagnosing, and determining treatment needs for kids with and without HIV. The work involves collaborations with clinicians to ensure the AI recommendations align with real-world clinical decisions and patient safety. If successful, the tool could reduce missed diagnoses and support faster, more reliable care for affected children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this AI tool could improve early detection and appropriate treatment of childhood TB, potentially reducing mortality.
How similar studies have gone: AI-based CXR reading has shown promise in adults, but pediatric-specific validation is needed and this study seeks to provide that.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jaganath, Devan — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Jaganath, Devan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Coronary disease and immune activation in people with HIV and tuberculosis coinfection
This research looks at how having HIV and latent tuberculosis together might raise the risk of heart disease, and what immune changes are involved.
-
Pulmonary rehabilitation to reduce breathing problems after tuberculosis
A program of guided exercise and breathing training to help adults who have recovered from TB breathe better and feel healthier.
-
Pulmonary rehab to reduce breathing troubles after TB
A program of pulmonary rehabilitation is being studied to help adults who have completed TB treatment avoid ongoing lung problems and improve daily breathing.
-
Air pollution and tuberculosis spread in Kampala, Uganda
This project looks at whether dirty air from PM2.5 particles makes tuberculosis more likely to spread within urban slum households in Kampala, Uganda.
-
Air pollution and TB spread in Ugandan urban slums
This project explores whether exposure to air pollution makes tuberculosis more likely to spread within households in a crowded Ugandan slum.
-
Air pollution and TB transmission in Kampala’s urban slums
This project looks at whether air pollution from PM2.5 makes tuberculosis spread more easily from infected people to their neighbors in urban slums of Kampala, Uganda.
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.