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Setting the agenda: a new model for collaborative tuberculosis epidemiologic research.
Dolly Katz1, Rachel Albalak, J S Wing
1Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd. NE, MS E10, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. ddk4@cdc.gov
Tuberculosis (Edinburgh, Scotland)
|August 10, 2006
Summary
Low tuberculosis (TB) incidence poses a challenge for research. The Tuberculosis Epidemiologic Studies Consortium (TBESC) model supports multi-site research for TB prevention and control.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Declining tuberculosis (TB) incidence in developed countries presents a research challenge due to low case numbers.
- Sufficient research is crucial to sustain and accelerate TB incidence reduction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a collaborative research model for applied tuberculosis research.
- To present the Tuberculosis Epidemiologic Studies Consortium (TBESC) as a solution for conducting essential TB research.
Main Methods:
- Establishment of the Tuberculosis Epidemiologic Studies Consortium (TBESC) involving 21 sites across two countries.
- TBESC conducts epidemiologic, behavioral, economic, laboratory, and operational research.
- Funding secured from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and external sources.
Main Results:
- The TBESC model facilitates programmatically relevant research despite low TB incidence.
- Multi-site collaboration effectively pools resources and expertise for TB research.
Conclusions:
- The TBESC serves as a successful model for applied tuberculosis research in low-incidence settings.
- This collaborative approach can be adapted for other areas of applied health services research.