How human and TB bacteria genetics shape tuberculosis outcomes
Host Pathogen Variation & TB Pathogenesis
This project learns how differences in people's genes and the TB germ change who resists infection, who has latent TB, and who develops severe disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11101337 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join cohorts of people in Vietnam and Uganda who range from resistant to TB, to latent infection, to active lung disease and TB meningitis. Researchers will collect clinical information and samples like blood and sputum, sequence human and bacterial genomes, measure proteins, and use bioinformatics to look for variants linked to different outcomes. The team matches each person's data with the TB bacteria that infected them to see how host and pathogen genetics interact. The work aims to explain why some people clear the bug while others get severe or spreadable disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates include people exposed to TB, those with latent TB, people with active pulmonary TB, and patients with disseminated forms like TB meningitis, especially at sites in Vietnam or Uganda.
Not a fit: People without TB exposure, those with unrelated health conditions, or individuals outside the study regions are unlikely to be eligible or gain direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to better vaccines, quicker tests to predict severe TB, and treatments tailored to patient and bacterial genetics.
How similar studies have performed: Prior genetic and bacterial studies have identified some human risk genes and TB bacterial variants, but this paired, multi-omics cohort approach is broader and more comprehensive than most earlier work.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hawn, Thomas R — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Hawn, Thomas R
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.