Blood test that finds tuberculosis and immune signals in children
Detecting pathogen and host factors on extracellular vesicles for pediatric TB diagnosis and management
A simple blood test looks for TB bacteria and immune markers to help diagnose and follow tuberculosis in young children who can't give sputum samples.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tulane University of Louisiana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11127622 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As a parent, I want a safer, easier test for my child when TB is suspected. This work looks for tiny particles and proteins from the TB bacteria and the child's immune response in blood using a nanoparticle-enhanced immunoassay read by a portable device. The team has shown the test can detect very low amounts of TB proteins in serum and is doing further validation toward FDA clearance. If successful, the approach would let doctors diagnose and monitor pediatric TB without needing hard-to-get respiratory samples.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are young children suspected of having active TB or undergoing TB treatment, particularly those who cannot provide sputum or have extrapulmonary disease.
Not a fit: Patients who need full microbiologic cultures for drug-resistance testing or those with conditions that prevent blood-based detection may not benefit from this test alone.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could enable faster, less invasive diagnosis and treatment monitoring for children with TB, especially infants and toddlers who can't produce sputum.
How similar studies have performed: Similar nanoparticle-enhanced blood assays have shown promise and this assay has even received FDA breakthrough device status, but broader clinical validation is still underway.
Where this research is happening
New Orleans, United States
- Tulane University of Louisiana — New Orleans, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lyon, Christopher J — Tulane University of Louisiana
- Study coordinator: Lyon, Christopher J
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.