Periodic Reporting for period 2 - EUSAT-RCS (European-Latin American TB Research Collaboration Network)
Période du rapport: 2021-10-01 au 2024-03-31
In 2016, the World Health Assembly launched the WHO’s ‘End TB Strategy’, an ambitious project aimed at reducing TB incidence by 90% by 2035 and progressing to just 1 TB case per million by 2050 worldwide. Key strategies to achieve TB elimination include optimizing treatment regimens to shorten their duration and enhancing diagnostic methods.
Our consortium is dedicated to strengthening the European-Latin American TB Research Collaboration Network (EUSAT-RCS), providing capacity building for TB professionals in Paraguay and Europe, and establishing a Latin American TB clinical hub. We have assembled a diverse group of early-stage and experienced researchers, technicians, and other professionals to conduct clinical research, ranging from the epidemiology of TB in vulnerable populations to genome-wide association studies and the validation of an innovative Electronic Nose device for point-of-care diagnostics.
Our consortium has three specific research objectives:
1. Investigate under-explored aspects of TB drug treatment.
2. Validate a portable, battery-powered Electronic Nose (eNose) device as a novel and promising point-of-care diagnostic tool for TB.
3. Evaluate the eNose device as a biomarker for treatment response.
Conclusion of the action: Over the past five years, our initiative has been highly successful in strengthening TB research. Our research in five Paraguayan prisons has significantly impacted TB management in Latin America. However, the eNose device we tested was found to be only 62% effective in diagnosing TB. Currently, a clinical drug trial with an optimized dose of rifampicin is recruiting participants in three countries and is expected to conclude by the end of 2025. This ongoing trial demonstrates the sustainability of our consortium, showcasing our commitment and proving us to be a solid, enthusiastic group of TB researchers dedicated to the mission to "END TB".
Our consortium is dedicated to strengthening the European-Latin American TB Research Collaboration Network (EUSAT-RCS), providing capacity building for TB professionals in Paraguay and Europe, and establishing a Latin American TB clinical hub. We have assembled a diverse group of early-stage and experienced researchers, technicians, and other professionals to conduct clinical research, ranging from the epidemiology of TB in vulnerable populations to genome-wide association studies and the validation of an innovative Electronic Nose device for point-of-care diagnostics.
Our consortium has three specific research objectives:
1. Investigate under-explored aspects of TB drug treatment.
2. Validate a portable, battery-powered Electronic Nose (eNose) device as a novel and promising point-of-care diagnostic tool for TB.
3. Evaluate the eNose device as a biomarker for treatment response.
Conclusion of the action: Over the past five years, our initiative has been highly successful in strengthening TB research. Our research in five Paraguayan prisons has significantly impacted TB management in Latin America. However, the eNose device we tested was found to be only 62% effective in diagnosing TB. Currently, a clinical drug trial with an optimized dose of rifampicin is recruiting participants in three countries and is expected to conclude by the end of 2025. This ongoing trial demonstrates the sustainability of our consortium, showcasing our commitment and proving us to be a solid, enthusiastic group of TB researchers dedicated to the mission to "END TB".
Work Performed and Main Results Achieved (April 2019 - September 2021)
Management and Communication:
⦁ Designed a comprehensive management and communication-dissemination plan.
⦁ Established a logistics executive board and organized secondments logistics and individual payments.
PriNose Trial:
⦁ Developed the protocol and obtained ethical approval.
⦁ Trained the research team and held a kickoff meeting for all stakeholders.
RIAlta Trial:
⦁ Developed the protocol.
Catastrophic Cost Health Questionnaire:
⦁ Initiated interviews at INERAM, Paraguay.
Note: The COVID-19 pandemic has extended the consortium's duration.
Work Performed and Main Results Achieved (October 2021 - April 2024)
RIAlta Clinical Drug Trial:
⦁ Currently recruiting participants in three countries, with recruitment expected to conclude by December 2025.
PriNose Study:
⦁ Completed, with over 3,700 participants recruited in five Paraguayan prisons.
⦁ Analysis is ongoing but encountered a very high prevalence of TB (>230 people with TB)
⦁ eNose Device: found to have suboptimal performance. Digital X-ray with CAD4TB proved to be a beneficial screening tool alongside the WHO's 5-symptom score, which was previously the only endorsed method for
high-risk group TB screening. Our study analysis team is developing recommendations for the National TB Program (NTP) to enhance future screening programs with X-ray, CAD4TB, symptom assessment, and
GenXpert.
⦁ Consortium Advocacy:
⦁ Issued a white paper calling for immediate actions to improve the health of incarcerated individuals.
Management and Communication:
⦁ Designed a comprehensive management and communication-dissemination plan.
⦁ Established a logistics executive board and organized secondments logistics and individual payments.
PriNose Trial:
⦁ Developed the protocol and obtained ethical approval.
⦁ Trained the research team and held a kickoff meeting for all stakeholders.
RIAlta Trial:
⦁ Developed the protocol.
Catastrophic Cost Health Questionnaire:
⦁ Initiated interviews at INERAM, Paraguay.
Note: The COVID-19 pandemic has extended the consortium's duration.
Work Performed and Main Results Achieved (October 2021 - April 2024)
RIAlta Clinical Drug Trial:
⦁ Currently recruiting participants in three countries, with recruitment expected to conclude by December 2025.
PriNose Study:
⦁ Completed, with over 3,700 participants recruited in five Paraguayan prisons.
⦁ Analysis is ongoing but encountered a very high prevalence of TB (>230 people with TB)
⦁ eNose Device: found to have suboptimal performance. Digital X-ray with CAD4TB proved to be a beneficial screening tool alongside the WHO's 5-symptom score, which was previously the only endorsed method for
high-risk group TB screening. Our study analysis team is developing recommendations for the National TB Program (NTP) to enhance future screening programs with X-ray, CAD4TB, symptom assessment, and
GenXpert.
⦁ Consortium Advocacy:
⦁ Issued a white paper calling for immediate actions to improve the health of incarcerated individuals.
The secondments we conducted were incredibly useful for advancing our research projects and fostering professional growth. Here are some key highlights:
⦁ PhD Progress: The four PhD candidates involved in this project are on track to complete their theses within the next 1-2 years.
⦁ Professional Team: We have built a dedicated team of multidisciplinary professionals with expertise in TB research and strong networks in South America and Europe, ensuring our work continues for decades to come.
⦁ High Participation: 96% of all planned secondments were completed and proved to be highly valuable experiences.
Areas of Secondments:
⦁ Conducting systematic reviews
⦁ Writing protocols
⦁ Training in ethics evaluations, microbiological lab techniques (MGIT, sequencing)
⦁ Designing and using online case record forms
⦁ Developing standard operating procedures
⦁ Conducting quantitative and qualitative trials
⦁ Analyzing qualitative data
⦁ Data cleaning and merging with external source documents
Alliance Meeting:
After completing our prison study, we held an alliance meeting that called for action to improve the health of incarcerated people in Latin America. This meeting also marked the beginning of future research projects as a consortium.
These achievements underline our commitment to advancing TB research and improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations. Our consortium is a strong, enthusiastic force in the fight to end TB.
⦁ PhD Progress: The four PhD candidates involved in this project are on track to complete their theses within the next 1-2 years.
⦁ Professional Team: We have built a dedicated team of multidisciplinary professionals with expertise in TB research and strong networks in South America and Europe, ensuring our work continues for decades to come.
⦁ High Participation: 96% of all planned secondments were completed and proved to be highly valuable experiences.
Areas of Secondments:
⦁ Conducting systematic reviews
⦁ Writing protocols
⦁ Training in ethics evaluations, microbiological lab techniques (MGIT, sequencing)
⦁ Designing and using online case record forms
⦁ Developing standard operating procedures
⦁ Conducting quantitative and qualitative trials
⦁ Analyzing qualitative data
⦁ Data cleaning and merging with external source documents
Alliance Meeting:
After completing our prison study, we held an alliance meeting that called for action to improve the health of incarcerated people in Latin America. This meeting also marked the beginning of future research projects as a consortium.
These achievements underline our commitment to advancing TB research and improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations. Our consortium is a strong, enthusiastic force in the fight to end TB.