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Review Journal Article Ppublish 4 citations

PubMed: 35301102 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2022.03.012

Blue Skies research is essential for ending the Tuberculosis pandemic and advancing a personalized medicine approach for holistic management of Respiratory Tract infections.

Int J Infect Dis 124 Suppl 1:S69-S74

Authors: Francine Ntoumi, Eskild Petersen, Peter Mwaba, Eleni Aklillu, Sayoki Mfinanga, Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, Markus Maeurer, Alimuddin Zumla

Affiliations

  • Fondation Congolaise pour la Recherche Médicale (FCRM), Brazzaville, Republic of Congo; Institute for Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Germany.
  • European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Emerging Infections Task Force, ESCMID, Basel, Switzerland; Institute for Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark; European Travel Medicine Network, Méditerranée Infection Foundation, Marseille, France.
  • Lusaka Apex Medical University, Faculty of Medicine: Zambia National Public Health Institute; UNZA-UCLMS Research and Training Project, Lusaka, Zambia.
  • Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital-Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden.
  • Muhimbili Medical Research Centre National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
  • Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
  • ImmunoSurgery Unit, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal; Medizinische Klinik, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany.
  • Division of Infection and Immunity, Center for Clinical Microbiology, University College London, and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES

Investments into 'Blue Skies' fundamental TB research in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have not been forthcoming. We highlight why blue skies research will be essential for achieving global TB control and eradicating TB.

METHODS

We review the historical background to early TB discovery research and give examples of where investments into basic science and fundamental 'blue skies research' are delivering novel data and approaches to advance diagnosis, management and holistic care for patients with active and latent TB infection.

FINDINGS

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that making available adequate funding for priority investments into 'Blue skies research' to delineate scientific understanding of a new infectious diseases threat to global health security can lead to rapid development and rollout of new diagnostic platforms, treatments, and vaccines. Several advances in new TB diagnostics, new treatments and vaccine development are underpinned by basic science research.

CONCLUSIONS

Blue Skies research is required to pave the way for a personalized medicine approach for management of TB and other Respiratory Tract Infections and preventing long-term functional disability. Transfer of skills and resources by wealthier nations is required to empower researchers in LMICs countries to engage in and lead Blue Skies research.

MeSH

Respiratory Tract Infections, Communicable Diseases, Tuberculosis, Vaccines, Therapeutics, Precision Medicine, Research, Investments, Pandemics, Covid-19

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