August 29, 2024
New study aims to evaluate a novel pediatric TB diagnostic tool and treatment response
A new five-year study titled “CRISPR-TB for pediatric TB diagnosis and treatment response” funded by the National Institutes of Health will support an evaluation of a CRISPR-based technology to target and detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell-free DNA (cfDNA). The study’s findings may provide a deeper understanding of its potential to diagnosis pediatric TB early and accurately and improve treatment responses.
The study team includes Principal Investigator Dr. Sylvia LaCourse (Associate Professor, UW Global Health and Medicine-Allergy and Infectious Diseases), Jaclyn Escudero (Research Coordinator with Global WACh), and Co-Investigators Dr. Tony Hu (Tulane University), Dr. Videlis Nduba (Kenya Medical Research Institute Centre for Respiratory Diseases Research (KEMRI CRDR), with support from their respective research teams.
The study leverages an existing collaboration between KEMRI CRDR who leads the clinical cohorts, while the Hu Lab will lead the CRISPR-TB platform optimization and testing of samples. The UW GWACh team led by Dr. LaCourse will provide oversight for the study design, execution, and analysis.
Congratulations to the team for receiving this award and we look forward to sharing updates on the study’s progress!