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Novel research and advocacy tackling tuberculosis in Vietnam
Supporting a healthier population
Infectious disease experts from the University of Sydney work closely with University of Sydney Vietnam Institute research staff and partner institutions to conduct evidence-based research to aid the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of tuberculosis in Vietnam.
University of Sydney Vietnam Institute research staff are proud to continue partnering with the University of Sydney and partner institutions to advance research and advocacy for the effective management of Tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis (TB) remains the world’s top infectious killer, with Vietnam being among the top 10 countries with the highest burden rates. TB treatment coverage rates in Vietnam continue to be the lowest in Asia, posing a major threat to population health.
To support the National Tuberculosis Program of Vietnam and advocate for greater access to TB diagnoses and prevention in Vietnam, our research group is conducting high-quality research, translating evidence into practice, and building local research capacity.
Coming together to combat tuberculosis in Vietnam
Professor Thu-Anh Nguyen from the University of Sydney Vietnam Institute, Professor Greg Fox and Professor Ben Marais from the University of Sydney, and Scientia Professor Sydney Guy Marks from the University of New South Wales are among the lead researchers.
Over the past decade, researchers have developed new ways to stop the spread of TB, conducted clinical trials to understand the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy to prevent drug-resistant TB, improved guidance for TB screening tools, and contributed to vaccine development.
Tuberculosis is a pandemic which has affected human society for millennia. It is a privilege to collaborate with the National Tuberculosis Program to develop the evidence we need to eradicate tuberculosis in Vietnam and globally. Strong partnerships between researchers and policy-makers is critical if we are to end TB within our lifetimes.
Professor Greg Fox
Preventative treatment for drug-resistance tuberculoses
Professor Greg Fox (right) looking at an x-ray in Vietnam with collaborator Professor Dick Menzies, McGill University.
Drug-resistance continues to impact the effective prevention and treatment of TB globally. In support of the WHO Global Tuberculosis Program, our research team will continue to develop new evidence to prevent drug-resistant TB.
In 2023, over 2,000 patients from across 10 provinces of Vietnam who were infected with TB were recruited for clinical trials. The trial results were presented to the WHO Guideline Development Group, resulting in new global guidelines being developed for TB prevention treatment and changes to the existing guidelines in Vietnam.
The University of Sydney is now working with the Vietnam NTP and University of Sydney Vietnam Institute research staff to implement the FLIRT trial, a new study that will evaluate new treatments for drug-resistant TB. The clinical trial will take place in Australia, Canada and across Vietnam.
Advancing access to vaccine treatment
Professor Greg Fox is working with Professor Guy Marks from the University of NSW and Professor Nguyen Thu-Anh from the Institute to join a global cutting-edge effort to evaluate a new vaccine against tuberculosis.
Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute (Gates MRI), the M72 Vaccine trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a promising vaccine among communities in areas of high disease burden.
The University of Sydney Vietnam Institute will play a critical role in carrying out this clinical trial in Vietnam.
"We are thrilled to collaborate with Gates MRI to implement this trial, which is a game-changer for the prevention of TB worldwide," said Professor Fox.
Excellence in research and innovation
Professor Thu-Anh Nguyen (second from right) and Professor Guy Marks (second from left) at the awards ceremony for the 2022 Ho Chi Minh Scientific Prize.
Professor Greg Fox, Professor Thu-Anh Nguyen, and Scientia Professor Guy Marks were awarded the 2022 Ho Chi Minh Scientific Prize, a prestigious award presented by the Government of Vietnam.
The prize honoured the group’s contributions to demonstrating the effectiveness of community-wide screening for TB. Using modern medical technology researchers developed new ways to detect TB and interrupt its spread.
"The findings of our studies have contributed to policy changes not only in Vietnam but also in many other high-burden countries in the world, saving thousands of lives," said Professor Nguyen.
"It was an incredible honour to receive this prestigious national award, as a part of an outstanding team of Vietnamese and international collaborators. Our community-wide screening projects demonstrates the power of research to change the way people around the world think about tuberculosis elimination." said Professor Fox.
Now, well positioned to lead nationally and globally-significant research projects, the University of Sydney Vietnam Institute is set to continue to advance the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of TB.