Developing a fast test for drug-resistant tuberculosis using a specific protein marker
Official title: Innovating anti-tuberculosis drug susceptibility testing with a novel and rapid non-culture based phenotypic test using MPT64 biomarker
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11061090 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a quick test that can help doctors find out if someone has drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) by checking for a specific protein, so patients can get their results in just a couple of days instead of waiting for weeks, leading to faster and better treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | April 4, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $632,826 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI176409-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11061090 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suspected of having drug-resistant tuberculosis based on clinical symptoms or previous treatment history.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have tuberculosis or those with drug-susceptible strains of TB may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to create a rapid, non-culture-based test for identifying drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) by detecting the MPT64 protein, which is only present during active TB growth. The test will allow for results to be obtained within 48-72 hours from sputum samples, significantly reducing the current wait time of 8-12 weeks associated with traditional methods. By focusing on the MPT64 biomarker, the study seeks to improve the accuracy of drug susceptibility testing for various anti-TB medications. This innovative approach could lead to timely and appropriate treatment for patients with drug-resistant TB.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to faster and more accurate diagnosis of drug-resistant tuberculosis, enabling timely treatment and potentially saving lives.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using biomarkers for rapid TB testing, but this specific approach using MPT64 is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kato-Maeda, Midori — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Kato-Maeda, Midori
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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.