Point-of-care HIV/AIDS and emerging infections diagnostics center
Official title: Clinical Core - The Center for Innovation in Point-of-Care Technologies for HIV/AIDS and Emerging Infectious Diseases at Northwestern University (C-THAN)
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11385930 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A U54 grant to Northwestern University is advancing quick, home-based and clinic-friendly diagnostic tools for HIV, AIDS-related illnesses, and other emerging infections, with a focus on low-resource settings and people living with HIV in the U.S. and globally.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 11, 2018 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $320,493 |
| NIH project number | 7U54EB027049-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11385930 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals at risk for or living with HIV/AIDS and communities in low-resource settings that could benefit from rapid diagnostic tests.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to point-of-care testing or those not involved with HIV or emerging infections may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This center strengthens collaborations across technology, clinical care, regulatory, and commercialization to bring rapid diagnostic tools from the lab to real-world use. It emphasizes validating new point-of-care and home-based tests for HIV, HIV-related conditions, and emerging infections, and it includes clinical sites in multiple countries to ensure tools work in real-world settings. The team will demonstrate analytical and clinical performance and usability, especially where resources are limited, to support faster decision-making for patients. By working with a network of partners, the project aims to accelerate translation of diagnostics that can improve care and outcomes for people living with HIV and those with emerging infectious diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could gain access to faster, easier-to-use diagnostic tools that improve timely diagnosis and management of HIV and other infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous similar POCTRN efforts have shown promise in translating diagnostics rapidly to clinical use, though each tool requires context-specific validation.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Achenbach, Chad J — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Achenbach, Chad J
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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.