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With an estimated 1.2 million annual cases and 214,000 deaths, childhood TB remains a serious threat to global child health. More than 70% of the global childhood TB estimates occur in the  (WHO) Africa and southeast Asia region, where childhood cases remain underdiagnosed and underreported principally due to difficulties with diagnosis.

The protein biosignature that is subject of this funding award was discovered from utilizing ex-vivo plasma samples of children presenting with signs and symptoms suggestive of TB disease, and it reliably distinguished children with TB disease, including those missed by conventional microbiological tests, from children with other respiratory diseases.

This  grant will move the novel biosignature of childhood TB towards clinical use as data generated from the project would support the translational application of the biosignature into a blood-based test to improve the diagnosis of TB disease in children.

Dr Toyin Togun, the Principal Investigator of the newly awarded grant and the project lead highlighted, “This UKRI/MRC-DPFS grant will move forward our research toward attaining a simplified, non-sputum-based, and preferably point-of-care diagnosis of TB disease in children and young adolescents, which is a crucial research priority. We will utilize the world-class research laboratories available at the MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM, West Africa,” Dr Togun concluded.

The project will also create career development opportunities for junior researchers in the fields of immunology, epidemiology, bioinformatics and computational biology.

“Our commitment extends beyond scientific research and innovation to nurturing talent and building capacity. By equipping junior researchers with the skills and experience needed to excel, this project seeks to foster a lasting impact on both health outcomes and the future of research in Africa”, , Unit Director MRCG at LSHTM.

Dr Toyin Togun will lead an international multi-disciplinary team of researchers from the LSHTM and  in the United Kingdom, , South Africa, , Germany, and MRC Unit The Gambia, as well as the  (FIND), Geneva, Switzerland, which is a global Product Development Partnership.