Fast CRISPR test to find which TB drugs will work
Development of a highly-multiplexed CRISPR-based TB drug susceptibility test
A new CRISPR-based lab test aims to quickly tell people with tuberculosis which antibiotics are likely to work against their infection.
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 ID | NIH-11124025 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would provide a sputum sample so researchers can read TB bacteria genetic markers with a CRISPR-based system called CARMEN. The team will use a large collection of drug-resistant TB strains and real patient sputum samples to optimize and validate the test while using machine-learning to design the detection probes. The work focuses on a highly multiplexed approach to detect resistance to many first- and second-line TB drugs in a single run. If the test consistently meets WHO performance and usability targets, researchers plan to move it closer to clinical use.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with suspected or confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis—especially those with prior treatment or suspected multidrug-resistant TB—who can provide sputum samples.
Not a fit: People with latent TB, those with only extrapulmonary TB where sputum is not available, or individuals unable to provide sputum samples are unlikely to benefit from this sputum-based test.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this test could give people with TB faster, more accurate results about which drugs will work, helping them start effective treatment sooner.
How similar studies have performed: CRISPR diagnostics and the CARMEN platform have shown promise for detecting viruses and some bacterial resistance markers, but applying this multiplexed CRISPR approach to comprehensive TB drug susceptibility is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Newark, UNITED STATES
- 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
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 below.