Diagnostic Innovations for Pediatric Tuberculosis in Bolivia
Funded at Tulane University of Louisiana · NIH-11533816 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aimed at improving TB diagnosis in children in Bolivia using a CRISPR-based blood test to detect TB DNA in serum.
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 start | June 7, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $120,406 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AI173021-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11533816 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children 0-11 years old with suspected TB and other group from high-risk settings, plus adults with presumptive TB and HIV-related TB risk groups.
✕Less likely to help
People without TB or those whose TB is already clearly diagnosed may not benefit from this test.
What this research studies
This project trains its sights on younger patients who often have non-specific symptoms and limited reliable tests. Researchers will test a CRISPR-TB assay on archived serum samples from children and adults with presumptive TB and from related groups, to see if it can accurately identify TB. The study builds on long-standing collaborations in Peru and Bolivia and plans to enroll about 200 presumptive TB cases to assess the test’s performance in real-world settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the test could offer a faster, more accurate blood-based TB diagnosis for children, enabling earlier treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary results in adults showed high sensitivity and specificity, with promising performance in pediatric cases.
Where this research is happening
-
Tulane University of Louisiana
New Orleans, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oberhelman, Richard a — Tulane University of Louisiana
- Study coordinator: Oberhelman, Richard a
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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.