Project Title

Assessment of immunomodulatory effects of Azithromycin in pulmonary tuberculosis patients

EDCTP Project Call

Career Development Fellowship (CDF)

Project Objectives

The primary objective of this project is to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of Azithromycin in pulmonary TB patients.

Study Design

A prospective, randomized study.

Project Summary

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious infectious disease with high morbidity and mortality rates, especially in developing countries. Even though proper and timely start of the standard treatment regime eradicates Mycobacterium tuberculosis, up to half of TB survivors have some form of persistent pulmonary dysfunction as a result of exacerbated inflammatory response. Azithromycin suppresses the production of inflammatory cytokines and as such forms a promising addition to the current TB treatment for preventing long-term pulmonary complications. In the current study, I will investigate whether the addition of Azithromycin to standard care has beneficial effects for lung health as measured by chest X-ray and pulmonary function tests. The objectives of AZT-TB project are a) to conduct a clinical pilot study evaluating the immunomodulatory effects of Azithromycin in pulmonary TB patients, while b) training and developing my clinical research skill in order to establish myself as an independent researcher. The research activities to achieve these objectives include clinical study preparation, execution, data acquisition and analysis and dissemination of the results. The AZT-TB research project adheres to EDCTP’s overall mission to enhance research capacity and accelerate the development of new or improved medical interventions against poverty-related neglected diseases, including TB. Furthermore, the proposed clinical study is in line with the EDCTP2 strategic agenda on various points: 1) Further evaluating adjuvant host-directed therapies to improve response and prevent complications of TB; 2) Evaluating novel interventions using new TB drugs or formulations with new combination regimens and 3) Improving treatment outcomes, and preventing long-term pulmonary and extra-pulmonary complications and other co-morbidity in adults and children with drug-sensitive and drug-resistant TB. The training activities are formulated in a career development plan and are aimed at developing my clinical research skills by hands-on training activities as well as courses. Besides developing the necessary skills, this fellowship will allow me to reside in Congo and continuate my work as researcher at FCRM, as well as provide financial resources to establish myself as independent researcher. As such, the AZT-TB project is in line with the EDCTP2 call topic: 1) supporting early to mid-career researchers by providing them an opportunity to train and develop their clinical research skills; 2) promoting retention of postdoctoral researchers of sub-Saharan Africa and 3) equipping the fellows to establish themselves as independent researchers with ability to initiate their own research teams at host institutions in sub-Saharan Africa.

Host Organisation

Current Organisation

Fondation Congolaise pour la Recherche Médicale

Current Job Title

Researcher

Biography