Better diagnosis and care for talaromycosis in Vietnam
Tropical Medicine Research Center for Talaromycosis in Vietnam
This project will try new fast blood and urine tests to find talaromycosis earlier in people with weakened immune systems, especially those with advanced HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11509021 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will compare a real-time PCR test and four new antigen tests against the slow standard culture method using blood, serum, and urine from a large cohort in Vietnam. Samples come from an existing NIH-funded cohort of about 1,400 people and from partner hospitals across Southeast Asia. Researchers will also study where the fungus lives and how it spreads to people, while strengthening local lab capacity and training. The goal is to make diagnosis quicker and more reliable so treatment can start sooner.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with advanced HIV or other immune suppression in Vietnam or nearby regions who have symptoms suggesting talaromycosis.
Not a fit: People without symptoms, without immune suppression, or living outside the study region may not directly benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these faster tests could lead to earlier treatment and fewer deaths for people with talaromycosis, particularly those with HIV.
How similar studies have performed: Rapid PCR and antigen approaches have helped diagnose other fungal infections, and early pilot data for talaromycosis assays are promising but not yet widely validated.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Le, Thuy — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Le, Thuy
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.