Tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment monitoring with blood-based RNA signals
Official title: Diagnosis of tuberculosis and monitoring of treatment via RNA liquid biopsy
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11382162 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-friendly test using blood-based RNA from plasma to diagnose active TB and monitor how well treatment is working.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $715,433 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI192977-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11382162 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with suspected TB or those being evaluated for TB in clinical settings.
✕Less likely to help
People without TB or whose disease does not show cfRNA patterns relevant to the test may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores a new, blood-based signature from plasma cell-free RNA to identify active TB and track disease course. It builds on prior data showing cfRNA can reflect disease burden and may outperform existing whole-blood tests. The work includes testing in adults across multiple countries to confirm accuracy and clinical usefulness in real-world settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the test could enable faster, more accurate TB diagnosis and better monitoring of treatment response.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary studies in several cohorts suggest high sensitivity and good specificity for cfRNA TB signatures, supporting further translation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Savic, Radojka — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Savic, Radojka
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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.