Inflammation and scarring after pulmonary tuberculosis
Inflammation and Fibrosis in Pulmonary TB: the INFIN-TB Study
This project looks at early lung inflammation and scarring during TB treatment to learn why some adults with and without HIV develop long‑term breathing problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11137667 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you would be an adult with newly diagnosed drug‑susceptible pulmonary TB who is followed through standard TB treatment, with half the group living with HIV and half without. The team will collect blood and sputum samples, perform chest imaging, and do breathing (lung function) tests early in treatment and at follow‑up visits. They will study signs of neutrophil‑driven inflammation and profibrotic activity to see how these early changes relate to later chronic lung symptoms and reduced lung function. The aim is to identify biological signals early in care that could guide future treatments to prevent post‑TB lung disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults age 21 and older with newly diagnosed, drug‑susceptible pulmonary TB — including both people with HIV and people without HIV — are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Children, people without active pulmonary TB, those with drug‑resistant TB, or people who already have severe, longstanding lung disease may not be eligible or likely to benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to prevent or treat long‑term lung damage after TB, improving breathing and quality of life for survivors.
How similar studies have performed: Early research, including prior work by this group, suggests host‑directed approaches could help prevent post‑TB lung disease, but effective clinical prevention strategies have not yet been proven.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Auld, Sara — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Auld, Sara
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.