Understanding TB treatment response: a cross-disciplinary approach

Treatment of tuberculosis is long (≥6 months) and requires a combination of drugs. Scientists have been trying to develop more effective drug combinations although this is not straightforward. Firstly, there is no test that can predict if the patient will be cured early in their treatment course. One part of my research will focus on generating information that can be used to develop such a test. I will study (1) the response of the patients' own defence system, (2) the amount of drug in the patients' blood and (3) the amount of tuberculosis in the patients' sputum. Secondly, deciding on the best combination and amount of drugs for tuberculosis treatment when they are given in combination is challenging. I will generate information that can be used to optimise the combination of drugs. I will study which drug combination, and which amounts of drugs, are needed to maximise the effect.