Automated, culture-free sequencing test to detect drug-resistant tuberculosis
Automated Sequencing for Culture-free Diagnosis of Drug Resistant TB
This project will develop an automated sequencing test that works directly on patient samples to quickly show which tuberculosis drugs are likely to work for people with drug-resistant TB.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11397352 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will build a next-generation sequencing (NGS) test that runs directly on patient sputum or other samples without the need to grow TB in culture, so results can be faster. The team will simplify and automate the lab steps so the test can be run mostly hands-free by technicians who already perform common molecular tests, lowering cost and technical skill needed. The test aims to detect genetic mutations that cause resistance to key drugs including bedaquiline, pretomanid, linezolid, and delamanid. The goal is a practical workflow suitable for lower-resource clinics so treatment can be matched to a patient’s resistance profile before starting therapy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with suspected or confirmed drug-resistant tuberculosis who need rapid drug susceptibility information before starting or changing therapy are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without tuberculosis or whose samples have very low bacterial loads that prevent direct sequencing may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give clinicians fast, comprehensive drug-resistance results so patients receive effective TB drugs sooner and avoid ineffective treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Previous pilot work has shown culture-free NGS can detect TB resistance but existing workflows are complex and not yet practical for routine use, so this project focuses on simplifying and automating them.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rodwell, Timothy Charles — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Rodwell, Timothy Charles
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 below.