Handheld test to spot drug-resistant tuberculosis
Handheld and population-based sequencing for rapid detection of new and repurposed drug resistance in M. tuberculosis
This project will bring a small, portable genetic test that finds drug resistance in tuberculosis so people can get the right medicines faster.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11412284 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I or someone I know has TB that might not respond to medicines, this project works to bring fast DNA-based testing closer to the clinic. Researchers are adapting a detailed targeted sequencing test to a low-cost, handheld nanopore device that can be used near clinics. They will sequence patient samples early in care through collaborations with partners and a South African cohort and compare results to standard testing. The aim is to cut the time to identify effective drugs and support shorter, all-oral treatment plans.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with confirmed or suspected rifampin-resistant tuberculosis or patients treated at clinics in the high-burden regions where the project operates.
Not a fit: People without tuberculosis or with only drug-susceptible TB are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this sequencing effort.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could learn which TB drugs will work much sooner and avoid months of ineffective treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Existing molecular tests like Xpert greatly improved rifampin-resistance detection, and early work on portable sequencing is promising though not yet widely proven at scale.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Metcalfe, John Zapata — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Metcalfe, John Zapata
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.