Blood tests to better detect and monitor tuberculosis
Immunometabolic Biomarkers to Advance TB Diagnosis and Treatment Monitoring
This project looks for patterns in blood molecules that could help detect active tuberculosis and track how adults respond to treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11386444 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would give a small blood sample that researchers analyze for many different molecules, including metabolites, oxylipins, and immune proteins. The team will compare these molecular patterns between adults with pulmonary TB and those without TB, and follow patients over time during treatment. The goal is to find a signature that can be translated into a simple point-of-care blood or urine test to detect TB and show whether treatment is working. This work focuses on adults and includes samples from clinical sites where sputum-based testing is limited.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with suspected or newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis or adults currently on TB treatment would be the best candidates for participation.
Not a fit: Children, people with only extrapulmonary TB, and individuals unwilling to provide blood samples may not directly benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to rapid blood or urine tests that find TB earlier and show whether treatment is working, improving care and reducing transmission.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have identified blood-based signatures (for example transcriptomic markers) with mixed success, while simultaneous immunometabolic plasma profiling is a newer approach that still needs validation.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Collins, Jeffrey M — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Collins, Jeffrey M
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.