Rapid bedside test to detect talaromycosis
Development, Clinical Validation, and Readiness for Implementation of a Novel Mp1p D4 Poin Diagnosis of Talaromycosist of Care Test for Rapid
This project is creating a quick point-of-care blood test to find talaromycosis early in people with advanced HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11415040 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be offered a simple point-of-care test that looks for a Talaromyces marneffei antigen from a small blood sample. The team will refine the test in the lab and then run clinical validation studies in hospitals where the disease is common. They will compare the rapid test to slow culture methods, screen people with low CD4 counts, and gather input from clinicians and policymakers to make the test ready for routine use. The goal is to enable earlier diagnosis and treatment so fewer people with advanced HIV die from this infection.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with advanced HIV disease (for example CD4 <200 cells/µL) or hospitalized patients with fever or suspected infection in Southeast Asia.
Not a fit: People without talaromycosis, those without HIV or not living in endemic regions, and patients with other causes of illness are unlikely to benefit directly from this test.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the test could allow much earlier diagnosis and treatment of talaromycosis and reduce deaths among people with advanced HIV in endemic areas.
How similar studies have performed: Existing diagnostics rely on slow culture and some lab antigen tests, but a rapid bedside point-of-care test for talaromycosis is largely new and represents a novel, unproven approach in clinical practice.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Le, Thuy — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Le, Thuy
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.