Last month, Professor Peter MacPherson launched two major University of Glasgow-led research initiatives focused on tuberculosis (TB) in Blantyre, Malawi.

The new research projects are funded by a Wellcome Discovery Award and will investigate new approaches to TB surveillance, and by the NIHR, which will undertake a randomised trial and health economics analysis of computer-aided diagnosis of TB on chest X-ray.

Hosted at the Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust and Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, the meetings brought together more than 50 attendees from Malawi, Zambia, and South Africa, including ZAMBART, the University of Cape Town, and key Malawian institutions.

A group of researchers from Glasgow and Malawi are standing outside a university building

A highlight of the week was the engagement of the Director and Deputy Director of the Malawi National TB and Leprosy Elimination Programme, who provided invaluable insights into national research priorities and strategic directions for TB control. Their participation underscored the critical alignment between research and national health goals.

Over the course of the metings, delegates explored a broad array of scientific and implementation topics that will inform research implementation and impact. Discussions ranged from novel strategies for TB case detection, geospatial epidemiology, health economic evaluation methods and community-based surveillance methodologies. South-south knowledge exchange resulted in protocol development, data harmonisation, and ethical considerations for upcoming studies.

These discussions not only strengthened existing collaborations but also paved the way for new interdisciplinary approaches to TB research. The Glasgow team were also able to visit the TB research laboratories, and see how TB is diagnosed and managed. 

Beyond the formal sessions, the week provided invaluable opportunities for networking, mentorship, and community engagement. A visit to a community-based TB research site (Gateway Clinic) reinforced the real-world impact of our work, while early-career researchers benefited from dedicated forums to shape their involvement in these projects. The meetings concluded with a clear roadmap for advancing the research agendas of the ZAMSA-TB and AIMS-TB Africa studies, ensuring that our collective efforts translate into meaningful improvements in TB prevention and care across the region. We look forward to continuing this vital work with our partners in the months ahead.

 

First published: 7 March 2025

<< News