Personalized TB treatment using sputum sequencing and drug-level targeting
Baseline pRescription According to Direct from Sputum Sequencing and TArgeted drug Concentration Strategy (BRASS TACS)
Using rapid sputum sequencing plus early drug-level checks to give adults with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis the right medicines and doses quickly.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11506594 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), doctors would use next-generation sequencing directly from your sputum to predict which drugs will work and what concentration ranges are needed. Based on those predictions, your treatment drugs and doses would be chosen up front rather than waiting weeks for culture results. Within the first two weeks, blood tests would check drug levels (therapeutic drug monitoring) while therapy is directly observed to confirm the target concentrations are reached. The goal is to reduce harmful side effects, prevent further resistance, and start effective treatment much sooner than current methods.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (age 21 and over) with suspected or confirmed multidrug-resistant tuberculosis who can provide sputum samples and participate in early monitoring.
Not a fit: People with drug-susceptible TB, children, or those unable to provide sputum or attend drug-level monitoring visits may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could let people with MDR-TB start the correct drugs and doses within days, lowering side effects, preventing more resistance, and improving survival.
How similar studies have performed: Direct-from-sputum sequencing is an emerging tool with promising early data, and therapeutic drug monitoring is an established practice, but combining them for MDR-TB is a relatively new strategy.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tornheim, Jeffrey — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Tornheim, Jeffrey
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.