© 2025 Kampala International University in Tanzania
The global community recognizes the profound impact of tuberculosis (TB) on vulnerable populations, particularly children. While significant strides have been made in TB control, the burden of childhood TB remains a critical public health imperative, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. We acknowledge the dedicated efforts of healthcare professionals and researchers working tirelessly to combat this disease. However, a considerable proportion of children with TB remain undiagnosed, underscoring the need for innovative and evidence-based interventions. The OPTIC-TB project is committed to contributing to this vital effort by optimizing childhood TB diagnosis and treatment.
We understand the inherent complexities of diagnosing TB in young children, particularly in resource-limited settings. We appreciate the challenges associated with:
We recognize the dedication of healthcare providers who navigate these challenges daily.
The OPTIC-TB (Optimizing Childhood TB Treatment Decision Algorithms in sub-Saharan Africa) project is a collaborative initiative dedicated to improving childhood TB outcomes. We are grateful for the opportunity to build upon the World Health Organization’s (WHO) interim recommendations for integrated Treatment-Decision Algorithms (TDAs) and contribute to the evidence base for their implementation.
We are committed to conducting rigorous research to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of TDA strategies. Our objectives include:
We appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the global effort to improve child health. We believe that the OPTIC-TB project has the potential to:
We are deeply grateful for the generous support of the Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking, under grant agreement No. 101145735. We acknowledge the contributions of our partners and collaborators in this important endeavour.
The Optic-TB project officially commenced with a Kick-Off meeting held in Dar es-Salaam, Tanzania, in August 2024.
Prof. Amani Mori, the coordinator from UiB, welcomed participants from DR Congo, Uganda, Tanzania, and Norway, introducing the consortium and outlining their respective roles.
With over 50 participants, the two-day meeting was organized by the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) and Kampala International University in Tanzania (KIUT). This event marked the first collective gathering of representatives from all partner institutions, along with key stakeholders, to discuss project objectives, review work packages, evaluate data collection tools, and assess prospective PhD candidates’ concept notes.
In addition to introductory remarks from all beneficiaries, Dr. Erika Gaspari from EDCTP presented an overview of the EDCTP program’s development and the vision for EDCTP3. She also emphasized the importance of adhering to the provided reporting requirements and system.
The first day featured scientific presentations on tuberculosis from various perspectives, updates on all eight work packages, and detailed reporting requirements.
On the second day, the focus shifted to a presentation and extensive discussion of the data collection tools to be utilized. Potential PhD candidates presented their proposals, followed by discussions of their concepts. Time was also allocated for a presentation on the monitoring and evaluation of project activities, milestones, and deliverables.
A four-year pragmatic open-label cluster randomized controlled trial will be conducted in 120 primary health facilities in the three countries. About 60,000 children with presumptive TB visiting the health facilities will be screened and those fulfilling the criteria will be enrolled in the study.Â
We hypothesize that the WHO-recommended TDA strategy is superior to the standard of care (SOC) in:
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The primary outcomes are:
We expect this project to produce significant outcomes that will address the issue of low paediatric TB detection in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. Additionally, it aims to build research capacity for conducting implementation research in low- and middle-income countries, and to foster networking and collaboration among the partner institutions.
WP1: Project Management & Coordination – UiB
WP2: Effectiveness assessment, costing/cost effectiveness and impact evaluation – NIMR
WP3:Â Performance validation, feasibility, and acceptability studies – MULI
WP4:Â Dissemination, Communication, and networking – UCB
WP5: Data Management, economic and statistical analysis – NIMR
WP6: Mentorship and Capacity Building – KIUT
WP7: Ethics requirements – UiB
WP8: Scientific project leadership – NIMR
Dr. Amani Thomas Mori (UiB)Â
Prof. Sayoki Mfinanga (NIMR)Â
Prof. Patrick de Marie Katoto (UCB)Â
Prof. Bruce Kirenga (MULI)Â
Prof. Angwara Kiwara (KIUT)Â
Prof. Andrew Kitua (KIU)
Optimizing the implementation and scale-up of the WHO tb treatment decision algorithms for children with pulmonary tuberculosis in sub-Saharan Africa
Acronym: Optic-TB
2024-2028
This project receives funding from the Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking, under grant agreement No. 101145735
University of Bergen (UiB), Norway (coordinator)
National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Tanzania
Universite Catholique De Bukavu (UCB), Democratic Republic of Congo
Kampala International University Tanzania (KIUT), Tanzania
Makerere University Lung Institute (MULI), Uganda
Kampala International University (KIU), Uganda
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