Better detection and prevention of tuberculosis in prisons
Official title: Strategies for tuberculosis control in prisons
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11506639 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Using portable digital chest x-rays with automated reads, genetic tracking, and modeling to find and prevent tuberculosis among people in high-risk prisons in Brazil.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2017 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $163,620 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AI130058-09S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11506639 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people currently incarcerated in participating high-tuberculosis-burden prisons in Central Western Brazil.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not incarcerated in the participating prisons or who do not have or are already treated for TB are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
If you are incarcerated in a participating prison, you may be offered regular chest x-ray screening using a portable digital machine that gives automated interpretations to find TB early. Bacterial samples from people diagnosed with TB will have genetic testing to help track how TB spreads between people in the prisons. Researchers will combine screening data and genetic results into mathematical models to compare different screening schedules and prevention strategies. The goal is to find approaches that are accurate, practical, and affordable for real-world prison settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to earlier diagnosis, fewer TB outbreaks, and more effective prevention programs in prisons.
How similar studies have gone: Automated x-ray screening and genomic tracking have shown promise in other settings, but combining these tools for routine use in high-burden prisons is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Andrews, Jason Randolph — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Andrews, Jason Randolph
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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.