Reimagining the status quo for TB Diagnostics
Abstract
Most people with drug resistant tuberculosis are never appropriately treated. This is primarily due to gaps in the diagnostic care cascade.
This talk will summarise the landscape of drug-resistant tuberculosis in Africa and key challenges and opportunities for the molecular diagnosis of resistance to innovative new regimens. It will focus on the drug-resistant tuberculosis test pipeline and especially the promising Liquidarray® XDR technology, including the underlying technology and implementation considerations required to maximise impact.
Future research questions and lessons to be learnt from prior drug-resistant tuberculosis diagnostic technologies will be highlighted.
Key Learning Objectives
- Understand the landscape of DR-TB and diagnostic gaps
- Understand the upcoming DR-TB pipeline and their strengths and limitations in the light of World Health Organization guidance
- Understand the Liquid Array XDR technology
- Future research directions
Who Should Attend
- TB Program Leads
- TB lab managers
- Mycobacteria technicians
- TB Lab staff
- TB research staff
- WHO TB division
Grant Theron
Professor
Grant Theron is a Professor of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics at Stellenbosch University in Cape Town, South Arica. He founded and leads the CLIME group consisting of 50 people dedicated to pursuing practical and translatable solutions to end tuberculosis via Africa-centred excellence in training. CLIME’s research spans diagnostics, transmission, and the microbiome, has resulted in over 100 publications influencing several World Health Organization policy decisions, and lead to improvements in the standard-of-care for people suffering from TB.