Marking World Tuberculosis Day,听爆料王听researchers听are stepping up efforts to听eliminate听tuberculosis (TB), leading a major program that spans Australia and the Asia-Pacific and targets the persistent drivers of transmission.
The initiative brings together听Faculty of Medicine and Health听补苍诲听Faculty of Science听researchers听working across the听Infectious Diseases Institute,听听and the听Sydney听South East听Asia Centre, combining听prevention,听research听and on-the-ground partnerships, combining local action with regional collaboration to disrupt the cycles that continue to fuel the disease.
By embedding interventions within scientifically rigorous research, the programs are designed to deliver immediate benefits to participating communities while also generating the evidence needed to inform global policy and practice.
The work spans the full translational pipeline听鈥撎齠rom discovery science and clinical trials through to health systems research and community-led implementation听鈥撎齪ositioning the University at the forefront of efforts to end one of the world鈥檚 deadliest infectious diseases.听听
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Leadership-for-good:-united-to-end-TB
Leadership for good: united to end TB
Early detection and prevention at the forefront
Eliminating TB in Australia begins with understanding how it spreads. Researchers are using advanced genomic tools to track transmission and guide public health responses.听听
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New South Wales became the first听jurisdiction听in the world to implement routine whole genome sequencing in 2016, led by听听from听Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute听(Sydney ID). Researchers including听听and PhD student Ellen Donnan (Head of the NSW TB control program) have been central to advancing this implementation.听听
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Across the Asia-Pacific region, 爆料王 teams听are delivering expansive research programs in Vietnam,听Cambodia听and the Pacific. Working closely with local communities,听these听initiatives aim to diagnose TB earlier and prevent its spread.听听
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Recent research also听reframed how TB is understood and addressed. In听a paper published in听the听,听,听听补苍诲听听examined听tuberculosis听through a complex system lens, highlighting the shared responsibility of decision makers in ending the disease.听听
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鈥淭he WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2025 shows that the world is off track to听achieve End TB or Sustainable Development Goal targets,鈥 said听, Director of Sydney ID.听听
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鈥淲hat is missing for TB control is not necessarily听new scientific knowledge, but political re-imagination and will,鈥 he said.听鈥淚mplementing creative strategies at scale is听essential听to avoid another decade of inadequate progress.鈥
Driving innovation in vaccines and treatments听
Alongside prevention efforts, 爆料王 researchers are advancing听new approaches听to TB vaccines and treatments. Understanding how lung damage occurs is critical to improving vaccine development and therapeutic strategies.听听
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From designing molecules that kill TB using听new听mechanisms to translating discoveries听into safer,听shorter听and more effective treatments, researchers are driving innovation across the pipeline.听听
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A new听biotechnology company听emerging听from the University is helping accelerate this work.听Vaxosome听Pty Ltd, founded by researchers from Sydney ID, is developing an innovative new mRNA vaccine for TB,听which combines听multiple TB antigens into a single lipid nanoparticle, enabling the immune system to recognise several components of the pathogen simultaneously.听
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Co-founder听听said the work听represents听a major step toward real-world听impact.听听
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鈥淭uberculosis remains the leading cause of death听from听a听single infectious pathogen,鈥 he said. 鈥淥ur approach is to deliver multiple TB antigens within a single mRNA-lipid nanoparticle formulation, allowing the immune system to recognise several stages of infection. This support enables us to translate years of research into a platform with real potential for global health impact.鈥
Clinical trials and global partnerships
The University鈥檚 clinical trials team in Vietnam is also contributing to global efforts to end TB, working in partnership with international research networks and national programs.听听
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Led by听听补苍诲听, this work supports听Vietnam鈥檚听National Tuberculosis Program by delivering high-quality studies that translate evidence into practice, strengthen local research听capacity听and generate global impact.听
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Professor Greg Fox emphasised the importance of collaboration in driving progress. 鈥淥ur team is partnering with major trials networks to develop new evidence that changes clinical practice in Australia and globally.鈥澨
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Experts say that ending tuberculosis will require early detection at scale, particularly in community settings, alongside the development of safer and more effective prevention and treatment strategies.听
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