How TB progresses in young children with and without HIV

PROgression of Tuberculosis infECTion in young children living with and without HIV: the PROTECT study

NIH-funded research University of California-Irvine · NIH-11488584

This project looks for blood or other markers that can tell which young children with TB infection, including those living with HIV, are most likely to develop active TB so they can get preventive treatment early.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California-Irvine NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Irvine, United States)
Project IDNIH-11488584 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This project searches for patterns in blood and other samples from young children to find markers that show early signs of TB getting worse. Researchers will use stored samples and serial samples collected over time from children in Uganda, South Africa, The Gambia, and Vietnam to compare those who developed TB with those who did not. The aim is to find marker signatures that meet WHO accuracy targets so they could be turned into simple point-of-care tests to guide preventive therapy. Children with and without HIV will be included to see how HIV affects progression and marker performance.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are young children (especially under 5 years) who have been exposed to TB or have evidence of TB infection, including children living with HIV.

Not a fit: Adults, children without TB exposure or infection, and people with unrelated health issues are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, doctors could identify at-risk children earlier and offer preventive treatment to reduce TB deaths and severe illness.

How similar studies have performed: Some biomarker work in adults and older children has shown promise, but reliable early predictors of TB progression in very young children remain largely unproven.

Where this research is happening

Irvine, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome VirusAcquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.