TB meningitis diagnostic test compare and cost study in sub-Saharan Africa
Official title: Determining the performance and accuracy of SILVAMP TB LAM and cost-effectiveness of diagnostic testing for TB meningitis
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11536232 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing a new CSF urine-based test (SILVAMP TB LAM) to improve diagnosis of TB meningitis in people with HIV, to help speed treatment and reduce death in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | June 21, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $148,182 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AI170158-06S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11536232 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with suspected TB meningitis, especially those living with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa, who present with neurologic symptoms and require rapid diagnostic testing.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose TB meningitis is clearly negative by all tests may not benefit from a new diagnostic approach.
What this research studies
TB meningitis is a deadly infection for people with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa, and current tests often miss cases or are slow. This project compares the SILVAMP TB LAM test on cerebrospinal fluid with existing methods like Xpert Ultra to see how well it detects TB meningitis and how much it costs. The study aims to confirm sensitivity and safety while considering practicality in low-resource settings with limited access to advanced machines. If SILVAMP TB LAM proves reliable and cost-effective, it could enable faster diagnosis and timely treatment for patients facing high risk of disability or death. The investigation builds on previous smaller studies and seeks broader confirmation across the regions most affected.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with suspected TB meningitis could receive faster, more accurate diagnosis and timely treatment, potentially reducing mortality and long-term disability.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier studies showed that SILVAMP TB LAM can detect TB meningitis with about half to slightly above half of definite cases, but larger confirmations are needed.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bahr, Nathan — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Bahr, Nathan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Personalized Immunomodulatory Therapy for HIV-related Cryptococcal Meningitis
A patient-focused study investigates a personalized treatment approach to improve outcomes for people with HIV who develop cryptococcal meningitis.
-
Improving Diagnostics and Neurocognitive Outcomes in HIV/AIDS-related Meningitis
A study in Uganda aims to use faster, better tests and a new antifungal to help people with HIV who develop meningitis.
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Minimally Invasive Sampling to Improve HIV-Associated M meningitis Diagnosis in Africa
A research study is testing easier, less invasive ways to diagnose meningitis in people living with HIV, with a focus on making diagnosis faster and more accurate in Africa and the US.
-
Understanding brain injury in kids with tuberculous meningitis (iThemba)
A study in children with TB meningitis in South Africa will look at how inflammation and blood-clotting factors relate to brain injury and infarcts.
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Serological clues to survival in HIV-related cryptococcal meningitis
This grant looks for antibody signals in the blood that could predict who survives cryptococcal meningitis in people with HIV.
-
Blood-brain barrier problems during bacterial meningitis
Researchers are studying why the brain’s protective barrier fails during bacterial meningitis and how that leads to brain injury, with a focus on how bacteria invade brain cells and disrupt protective transporters.
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.