Genetic and lab monitoring of drug-resistant tuberculosis to improve treatment
Advanced Genotypic and Phenotypic monitoring of Drug Resistant TB to Improve TB Treatment Outcomes
This project uses genetic and lab tests on TB bacteria from people with drug-resistant tuberculosis to spot resistance early and help guide better treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11168590 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I have drug-resistant TB, the team would collect my TB bacteria and link it with my clinical records and medication-adherence information. They will perform genetic sequencing, measure bacterial gene activity and metabolites, and test how the bacteria produce energy and respond to drugs. Functional lab assays will look for early signs that resistance is developing during treatment. The goal is to give doctors information that could let them change medicines sooner and improve chances of cure.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with confirmed or suspected drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis who can provide sputum samples and treatment/adherence history.
Not a fit: People with drug-susceptible TB who are cured by standard therapy or those unable to provide bacterial samples would likely not benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could let clinicians detect emerging drug resistance earlier and tailor treatments to increase cure rates and shorten ineffective therapy.
How similar studies have performed: Genetic sequencing and molecular tests have helped identify TB drug resistance before, but combining transcriptomics, metabolomics and functional respiratory assays on clinical isolates is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Bronx, United States
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine — Bronx, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Larsen, Michelle H — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Larsen, Michelle H
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.