FEND-TB: Faster, better TB tests for all ages
Official title: FEND-TB
Funded at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-11601679 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A multi-institutional project aims to develop and validate faster TB diagnostic tools and drug-susceptibility tests so people of all ages, including children and those with extrapulmonary TB, can get quicker and more accurate results.
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 | September 10, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $298,587 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AI190528-02S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11601679 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals suspected of TB or with a confirmed TB diagnosis, including children and adults with extrapulmonary or early/subclinical TB.
✕Less likely to help
People whose TB is not detectable with the new tests or who cannot access the testing network may not benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports a collaborative effort to evaluate new TB diagnostic platforms and assays that can rapidly identify TB and determine drug resistance. Researchers will test these tools against diverse patient samples to ensure they work well in different disease states and populations. The goal is to shorten the time to accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment, while protecting the efficacy of new TB drugs. The project emphasizes real-world performance, including sample processing, sensitivity, and cost considerations, to guide future clinical use. Overall, it seeks to improve TB care by enabling faster, more reliable testing across age groups and TB presentations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive faster and more accurate TB diagnoses and drug-resistance information, leading to quicker, appropriate treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Several new TB diagnostic platforms have shown promise, but rigorous, unbiased evaluations across diverse populations remain needed.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ellner, Jerrold J. — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Ellner, Jerrold J.
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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.