Early lung imaging signs of tuberculosis
Official title: Imaging signatures of early tuberculosis
Funded at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-11466425 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project builds computer-based CT and chest X-ray tools to spot early lung changes that may signal tuberculosis in people who don't yet have symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | November 9, 2023 |
| Project end | October 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $293,858 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AI175555-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11466425 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people who have been in close contact with someone with active TB, even if they currently have no symptoms.
✕Less likely to help
People who already have a confirmed active TB diagnosis or those without access to chest imaging may not receive direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
If I'm someone exposed to TB but without symptoms, researchers will use CT scans and chest X-rays to look for subtle lung changes before illness appears. They will combine images from past and new household-contact studies to create a high-resolution radiomic signature that predicts who will progress to active TB. They will also improve field-ready chest X-ray computer-aided detection using transfer learning, image-to-image training, and by adding routine clinical and epidemiologic information. The goal is to produce practical tools to guide diagnosis and target preventive treatment to stop transmission.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could allow earlier diagnosis and targeted preventive treatment to reduce transmission and long-term disability from TB.
How similar studies have gone: Some AI chest X-ray tools and radiomic approaches have detected active TB, but using imaging to predict progression in asymptomatic people is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xie, Yingda Linda — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Xie, Yingda Linda
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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.