Finding biological signs that predict which TB-exposed children will get sick
Official title: Identifying correlates of risk for future tuberculosis disease progression in children (INTREPID)
Funded at Stellenbosch University · NIH-11419741 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for blood and other biological signs in children exposed to tuberculosis that show who is likely to develop TB disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stellenbosch University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stellenbosch, SOUTH AFRICA) |
| Project start | May 5, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $504,754 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI175235-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11419741 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children who have been exposed to someone with tuberculosis, especially young children and those living with HIV in high TB-burden areas, would be the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without recent TB exposure, most adults in low-risk settings, or those not in the study regions may not directly benefit from this work.
What this research studies
As a parent, this work follows children who were exposed to TB and collects blood and other samples to look for biological signs that predict future illness. The team will include children of different ages and those living with HIV, and will examine whether common viral infections change these biomarker patterns. Laboratory tests and data analysis will be used to separate children likely to progress to active TB from those who are not. The aim is to create a more accurate test so preventive therapy can be given to the children who most need it.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors target preventive TB treatment to the children most likely to get sick while avoiding unnecessary treatment for others.
How similar studies have gone: Previous biomarker studies in adults have shown some promising signals, but reliable predictive tests for progression in young children are limited and the effect of common viral infections on pediatric signatures is relatively untested.
Where this research is happening
-
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Seddon, James Alexander — Stellenbosch University
- Study coordinator: Seddon, James Alexander
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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.