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SWAB-IMPACT: Swab-Based Molecular Testing for Impact on TB Diagnosis and Treatment

Objective

Earlier more accessible tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and treatment is vital to achieve global targets for TB elimination. A key challenge in high TB burden settings is the current diagnostic approach at primary care level. Despite substantial investment in molecular diagnostics for TB, current tests are too expensive and complex to implement near patients and rely on sputum which many people cannot produce. Therefore, samples are referred to regional ‘hub’ laboratories, leading to delays of several days and contributing to significant loss to follow up, morbidity and mortality. SWAB-IMPACT will address this challenge by implementing an innovative swab-based molecular TB test (Pluslife MiniDock MTB), which is accurate, fast, low-cost, simple and battery-operated, thus meeting the WHO targets for true point-of-care (POC) testing. Over 36 months, this project will (1) establish the effectiveness of this approach in improving TB diagnosis and treatment in primary care clinics through a cluster randomised controlled trial, (2) assess implementation feasibility of POC swab-based molecular testing through mixed methods, and (3) estimating the incremental cost, cost-effectiveness and budget impact of swab-based molecular testing. The project will take place in Zambia and South Africa, both high TB burden settings, and leverage a European-African partnership with experience in clinical trials, diagnostic development, implementation science and health economics. We envisage substantial impact on policy making by generating the evidence required for local adoption and scale-up in project-countries. Furthermore, we aim to accelerate the deployment of this transformative POC diagnostic solution in sub-Saharan Africa for other public health challenges by demonstrating a scalable model for TB.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Keywords

Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

HORIZON-JU-RIA - HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) HORIZON-JU-GH-EDCTP3-2025-04-two-stage

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Coordinator

THE AURUM INSTITUTE NPC
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 886 733,75
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 886 733,75

Participants (2)

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