Estimating how often tuberculosis occurs and how infectious it is
Official title: Adapting backcalculation methods to estimate the incidence and infectiousness distributions of tuberculosis
Funded at Boston University Medical Campus · NIH-11060399 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking to get a clearer picture of how many people have tuberculosis (TB) and how long they can spread it, using a special method that was first created for HIV, so we can improve how we diagnose and treat TB and help more people stay healthy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $48,974 |
| NIH project number | 1F31AI183782-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11060399 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who are at risk of tuberculosis infection or have been diagnosed with TB.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at risk for tuberculosis or those who have already been effectively treated may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to improve the understanding of tuberculosis (TB) incidence and infectiousness by adapting a method originally developed for estimating HIV incidence. The approach uses a Bayesian framework to analyze existing data and produce more accurate estimates of how many people are infected with TB and how long they remain infectious. By refining these estimates, the research seeks to inform better resource allocation for TB diagnosis and treatment, ultimately aiming to reduce TB-related morbidity and mortality.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective strategies for diagnosing and treating tuberculosis, potentially saving lives.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has successfully used similar backcalculation methods for estimating HIV incidence, suggesting potential for success in adapting these methods for tuberculosis.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University Medical Campus
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shapiro, Anne Nicole — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Shapiro, Anne Nicole
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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.