Scientists reported at the program that India has the highest number of tuberculosis (TB) cases in the world, with over 300,000 estimated deaths due to the disease in 2023.
A two-day meeting for the 14th annual RePORT (Regional Prospective Observational Research for Tuberculosis) initiative started at the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) to focus on improving preventive and diagnostic measures, as well as developing new vaccines for tuberculosis (TB) recently.
About 115 scientists, clinicians, and epidemiologists from India and the United States are participating to explore how the immune systems of TB patients vary based on age and the specific areas of the body affected by the infection.
“We look at TB in a germ-centered way. But we need to look at the disease in a people-centered way such as their susceptibility, immunity, and access to diagnostics and therapeutics. TB deaths are predictable and preventable,” asserted Yenepoya University’s Anurag Bhargava
During the meeting, Vinay K. Nandicoori, the Director of CSIR-CCMB, suggested that research should include a group of rural patients to better understand how conditions like diabetes, anemia, and malnutrition affect tuberculosis (TB). He stressed the importance of collaboration between biologists, clinicians, and public health researchers to effectively address the challenges of TB. “This meeting serves as a reminder for biologists to play an important role in improving disease diagnostics, treatments, and management,” he stated.
Senbagavalli Prakash Babu, the program manager said , RePORT India demonstrates the commitment and dedication of TB researchers to fight the disease through focused research in line with a national strategic plan.
-Rashmi Kumari
