Better ways to find tuberculosis infection
Ultrasensitive detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection
This project is creating advanced imaging tools to find tuberculosis infection much faster and more accurately.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11142551 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Tuberculosis (TB) is a widespread illness, but current methods to detect the bacteria that cause it are slow. This project is developing highly sensitive imaging technologies to find the tuberculosis bacteria in the body much earlier and more precisely. These new tools could allow doctors to see how well treatments are working within hours, rather than waiting weeks. Our goal is to track the infection, the effectiveness of vaccines, and how medicines fight TB in real-time, even when there are very few bacteria present in tissues. This could lead to faster and more effective ways to manage TB.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research could eventually benefit individuals who have or are at risk for tuberculosis infection by improving detection and treatment monitoring.
Not a fit: Patients without tuberculosis infection would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to much faster diagnosis and more effective treatment monitoring for people with tuberculosis.
How similar studies have performed: This project builds upon earlier successful imaging technologies developed by the researchers, aiming for even greater sensitivity.
Where this research is happening
College Station, United States
- Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr — College Station, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cirillo, Jeffrey D. — Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr
- Study coordinator: Cirillo, Jeffrey D.
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.