Developing a urine test for diagnosing tuberculosis in children

Host Proteomic Biosignatures for a Urine-based Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Children

NIH-funded research University of California, San Francisco · NIH-10923850

This study is working on a simple urine test to help doctors find out if children have tuberculosis (TB), making it easier to diagnose without needing difficult sputum samples.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Francisco NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (San Francisco, United States)
Project IDNIH-10923850 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on creating a non-invasive urine-based test to diagnose pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in children, addressing the challenges of obtaining sputum samples. The study will analyze urine samples from children suspected of having TB to identify specific proteins that can serve as biomarkers for the disease. By using advanced mass spectrometry techniques, researchers aim to discover unique protein signatures that indicate the presence of TB, which could lead to more accurate and accessible diagnostic methods for young patients.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children under 11 years old who are symptomatic and being evaluated for pulmonary tuberculosis.

Not a fit: Patients who do not exhibit symptoms of tuberculosis or are older than 21 years may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a reliable and easy-to-use urine test for diagnosing tuberculosis in children, potentially saving lives through earlier detection and treatment.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promise in using biomarker-based approaches for diagnosing tuberculosis, indicating that this method could be a viable advancement in TB diagnostics.

Where this research is happening

San Francisco, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.