Research Projects

Around 10.4 million people FELL ILL FROM TB (WHO: 2016) (28,500 people per day). 1.8 million people died from TB including 400,000 with HIV + TB (over 4,900 people every day). 480 000 people have MDR TB in the world (2014). Diagnosis of human TB is extremely difficult, time-consuming and in-efficient. No efficient, cost effective tests are available for an early diagnosis of these infections. Therefore, rapid, economical, and improved TB diagnostic tests are urgently needed. The proposed tests (TB rapid serology tests, detection of LAM antigen in urine, MPT64 in sputum and EIOSPOT test) are rapid (20-25 minutes compared to 8 to 12 weeks for routine culture), low cost/affordable (compared to $10 for Xpert), do not require large equipment, mostly are point of care easy to use tests and only small amount of sample is needed.