Vision

To ensure that all people with TB can access convenient, accurate and rapid TB diagnosis.

Goals

  1. Develop rapid, affordable tests for diagnosis or triage that do not rely on sputum and are used at the point of care.
  2. Develop accurate DST for critical medicines, including through sequencing-based tests and strategies for early detection of resistance to the medicines used in regimens.
  3. Improve tools for detecting TB infection (i.e., latent TB), subclinical TB and testing for risk of progression to active disease.
  4. Develop and harness AI and machine learning-based tests.

Objectives

  1. Ensure expanded and equitable access to critical knowledge and resources that enable the development of new diagnostic tools.
  2. Develop and evaluate a diverse portfolio of new tests and solutions.
  3. Demonstrate patient benefit and predict impact within the entire health system.
  4. Ensure that WHO-approved diagnostics are made available and appropriately used in relevant countries.

Governance and Structure

The NDWG is currently co-chaired by Dr. Morten Ruhwald, Head of Tuberculosis, FIND, and Dr. Daniela Cirillo, Head of Emerging Pathogens Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan. The Secretariat is housed by FIND. A constituency-based Core Group with representation from various stakeholders provides strategic direction.

Five time-limited Task Forces are responsible for implementing targeted projects in support of priorities defined by the NDWG as part of the Global Plan to End TB:

  • Build consensus and foster knowledge sharing to enable the identification of suitable biomarkers or biosignatures for TB point-of-care tests (Biomarkers for POCTs)
  • Integration of next-generation sequencing and updated guidance to test developers on next-generation DST in alignment with new treatment guidelines and future drug regimens (NGS and next-generation DST)
  • Foster development and evaluation of tests for progression of TBI to active disease (TBI and test of progression)
  • Engaging TB communities in TB diagnostics R&D and implementation (Task Force on Community Engagement)
  • Preservation of New Drugs and Regimes. (see more)