TriageTB is a project that was funded by the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP). Our goal was to field-validate a rapid point-of-care triage test for active tuberculosis (TB) that can be conducted in a laboratory-free manner. Such a test could transform the TB diagnostic landscape.
The TriageTB project had a duration of four-and-a-half years and ended in March 2024. It was part of a larger global study which is still ongoing, and from which results will be shared here as well as soon as they become available.
Most of the experts from Africa and Europe behind this project already successfully worked together in the two previous EDCTP-funded initiatives AE-TBC (“African European Tuberculosis Consortium”, July 2010 - December 2013) and ScreenTB (“Evaluation of host biomarker-based point-of-care tests for targeted screening for active TB”, April 2016 – July 2019). In TriageTB they teamed up with FIND to further improve the test, ensure its global applicability, and work towards its commercialization.
Lead: Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC)
WP1 aimed to refine the biomarker signature on the MBT strip for global application and integrate it in test strips which were then evaluated in a large prospective study on fresh fingerstick blood in WP2.
Stellenbosch University (SUN)
WP2 compared the diagnostic performance of our test strips to the final composite diagnostic gold standard of clinical findings, chest X-ray, sputum microbiology and treatment response. This non-interventional clinical study enrolled adult participants in The Gambia, South Africa and Uganda.
Stellenbosch University (SUN)
WP3 captured, managed and analysed clinical and laboratory data. The WP assessed biomarker performance, informed selection of global biosignatures, and developed diagnostic algorithms for incorporation into the handheld readers.
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
WP4 was designed to strengthen capacities of both scientific and administrative staff of all partner institutions. Structured mentoring and a focus on individual career development supported individuals to achieve their full potential.
LINQ management GmbH (LINQ)
WP5 supported and facilitated communication about the project, effective dissemination of its results, and optimal uptake and exploitation of project outcomes.
LINQ management GmbH (LINQ)
This WP provided all necessary support to enable a smooth and efficient project workflow.
TriageTB was implemented by a team of passionate people with very complementary skills but one common goal: to make a real difference in the lives of patients.
They combined their extensive experience in biomarker discovery, clinical research, assay development, commercialization, capacity development, networking and grant management to speed up and streamline how TB is diagnosed in resource-limited settings. Building on many years of joint research that has prepared this work, and with FIND as a new partner by their side, the consortium worked diligently to make an impact.
In an international collaborative research project such as TriageTB, partners need to work together across countries and continents. A lot of work can be done individually, but to coordinate all activities properly the whole consortium needs to come together in person at least once a year, which unfortunately involves many long distance flights.
As our group is very concerned about the impact this has on our environment we decided to offset the CO2 emissions of all the flights that are needed to implement this project. Following the global standardized framework of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol we planned to calculate our CO2 emissions. To offset them, we were to select a Gold Standard certified project in one of the countries where we implement our clinical study, thus not only reducing our carbon footprint and offseting our unavoidable emissions, but also creating jobs and capacities in our African partner countries.
In the end, the COVID pandemic which hit soon after the start of the project led to most of our meetings being held remotely.
A summary of what we have learnt from the mentoring programme in TriageTB and some recommendations for establishing successful mentoring programmes
On 25-26 Nov 2023, TriageTB and ENDxTB members could finally come together again for their joint project meeting, where four young researchers opened the plenary session on Day 2.
Next to her involvement in TriageTB, AnnRitah Namuganga is pursuing a PhD in immunology and molecular biology at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda.
Annabelle Cottam, Ismaila L Manneh, Awa Gindeh, Abdou K Sillah, Ousainou Cham, Joseph Mendy, Amadou Barry, Edward G Coker, Georgetta K Daffeh, Simon Badjie, Salieu Barry, Olumuyiwa Owolabi, Jill Winter, Gerhard Walzl, Jayne S Sutherland
