Talaromycosis Center in Vietnam
Tropical Medicine Research Center for Talaromycosis in Vietnam
This program is developing faster, more accurate tests to diagnose talaromycosis for people—especially those with HIV or weakened immune systems—in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11417982 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From your perspective as a patient, the center uses blood, serum, and urine samples collected from hundreds of people in Vietnam to test new ways of finding talaromycosis more quickly than current culture methods. Researchers will compare a real-time PCR test and four new antigen-detection assays to traditional culture to see which detects infection sooner and more reliably. The team will also study where the fungus lives and how it spreads, while building lab capacity and training in local hospitals. The combined clinical and laboratory work aims to bring faster diagnostics into routine care across the region.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults in Vietnam or nearby regions with HIV or other forms of immune suppression who have symptoms suggesting talaromycosis or who are enrolled in participating hospital cohorts.
Not a fit: People without symptoms of talaromycosis, those outside the study region, or patients unwilling to provide blood or urine samples are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could get quicker, more accurate diagnoses that allow earlier antifungal treatment and reduce deaths.
How similar studies have performed: PCR and antigen tests have improved diagnosis for other fungal infections and early studies of these assays for talaromycosis are promising but still need validation.
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.