Translational Research for Tuberculosis Elimination : Priorities, Challenges, and Actions

The WHOEnd TBStrategy,endorsed bytheWorld Health Assemblyin May2014, hasthe ambitious goal ofendingtheglobal tuberculosis(TB) epidemic by2035, with targets of a95%decline in deaths duetoTB (compared with2015) and a90%reduction in incidence ofTB totencases/100,000 orlessand no TB-affected household experiencingcatastrophiccosts dueto TB. \u2022 Achieving thisgoalwill only bepossiblethrough the development and rapid uptake of new tools,including rapid point-of-care diagnostics,safeand shorter treatment of latent TBinfection anddisease, andan efficacious TB vaccine, combined with efficient health systems and careprovision, and actions on thesocialdeterminants of TB. \u2022 Research for TBeliminationrequires an intensification ofeffortsacross acontinuum fromfundamental research toclinical, epidemiological,implementation,health system, andsocialscience research. Enhancing research along the fullspectrum,from basic toimplementation,and strengtheningresearch capacity, particularly inlow- andmiddle-income countries severely affectedbythe TBepidemics,iscrucial for TBelimination. \u2022 The creation of aresearch-enabling environment thatfostersand rewards high-quality research requires abroad-based, concertedeffort bynational governments and international donors todevelopandpromoteTB research and research capacity at the country level and theeffective engagement of allstakeholders