Bringing simple HIV and emerging infection tests to clinics and homes
Clinical Core - The Center for Innovation in Point-of-Care Technologies for HIV/AIDS and Emerging Infectious Diseases at Northwestern University (C-THAN)
Helping develop and improve easy-to-use rapid and home tests for people with HIV and for emerging infections in low-resource communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11146467 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This clinical core works with hospitals, clinics, and communities in Chicago and partner sites in Nigeria, South Africa, Mali, Senegal, and Tanzania to move point-of-care and home-based tests toward real-world use. Teams test how well new devices detect HIV and related infections, and whether they work reliably in low-resource settings. They also ask patients and caregivers about how easy and acceptable the devices are within local cultural contexts. The goal is to build a pipeline so useful, affordable tests reach the people who need them most.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with HIV, those at risk for HIV, and individuals in communities affected by emerging infectious diseases—particularly in the listed partner countries—are the primary candidates.
Not a fit: Patients whose care needs are unrelated to diagnostics, those seeking therapeutic interventions, or people outside the participating regions may not directly benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, people could get faster, easier diagnoses and improved access to care through reliable clinic and home testing.
How similar studies have performed: Previous point-of-care and community diagnostic programs have improved testing access in low-resource settings, though adapting tools for new infections and home use remains an ongoing challenge.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Achenbach, Chad J — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Achenbach, Chad 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.