Better ways to find and prevent TB in prisons
Strategies for tuberculosis control in prisons
This project will use portable chest x-rays with computer readings, genetic tracking, and screening plans to find and prevent tuberculosis among people in 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 ID | NIH-11258497 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you or someone you care for is in a prison in Central Western Brazil, researchers will offer portable digital chest x-rays read by automated software, collect samples for genetic testing, and follow people over time to see who develops TB. The team will look for TB even when people have no symptoms and will use genome data to trace how infections spread inside and between prisons. They will also use mathematical models to compare screening schedules and the addition of preventive therapy to find approaches that are both effective and affordable. Participation may involve a chest x-ray, giving sputum or other samples, and periodic follow-up while incarcerated.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults incarcerated in high-TB prisons in Central Western Brazil who can undergo chest x-rays and provide sputum or other samples for testing.
Not a fit: People not incarcerated in the targeted prisons, those without TB exposure, or those unable to undergo x-rays or provide samples would not directly benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to earlier detection and prevention of TB in prisons, lowering transmission, illness, and deaths.
How similar studies have performed: Automated x-ray screening and genomic tracking have shown promise in other settings, but using them together and proving cost-effective TB control in prisons remains largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Andrews, Jason Randolph — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Andrews, Jason Randolph
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.