NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Understanding Gut Health and Treatment for Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis

Official title: Longitudinal microbiome-host interactions and clinical outcomes in drug-resistant tuberculosis patients

Funded at Stellenbosch University · NIH-11122188 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This project looks at how gut bacteria change during treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis to help us understand patient health.

More Tuberculosis research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionStellenbosch University
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Stellenbosch, SOUTH AFRICA)
Project startJuly 27, 2022
Project endJune 30, 2027
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$89,253
NIH project number5K43TW012302-04
Project IDNIH-11122188 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates are adults and adolescents (15 years or older) with rifampicin-resistant or multidrug-resistant tuberculosis who are starting a specific shorter course treatment regimen.

Less likely to help

Patients who do not have drug-resistant tuberculosis or are not receiving the specific shorter course regimen would not directly benefit from this particular research.

What this research studies

Our bodies have many tiny living organisms, called the microbiome, which are important for our health, especially in the gut. We know that certain gut compounds can affect the risk of developing tuberculosis (TB), a serious illness. This project will follow patients with drug-resistant TB in South Africa as they receive a new treatment. We will collect samples like sputum and stool to see how their microbiome changes over time and how these changes relate to their health outcomes.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help us understand how to improve treatment outcomes for drug-resistant tuberculosis patients by supporting their gut health.

How similar studies have gone: While the general impact of antibiotics on the microbiome is known, the specific effects of this new drug-resistant TB treatment on the microbiome in these patients are currently uncharacterized.

Where this research is happening

  • Stellenbosch University
    Stellenbosch, South Africa
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Naidoo, Charissa Camille — Stellenbosch University
  • Study coordinator: Naidoo, Charissa Camille

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.