Sponsored by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine, the Forum on Drug Discovery, Development, and Translation, and the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, the 2-day workshop addressed the spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis in Russia and across the globe, as well as the rapid emergence and spread of extensively drug resistant (XDR) tuberculosis. The implications of totally drug resistant (TDR) tuberculosis was also discussed as well as the newly emerging profile of MDR TB.

The fight against the reemergence of Tuberculosis mainly because of new drug resistant strains has been a priority of ISTC since its creation in 1994. ISTC’s efforts have taken various forms such as, research projects in the field of detection and drug discovery, international workshops, seminars, and the creation of an international cluster of researchers to better coordinate efforts in this field.

In total, 20 research projects in this field have been completed to date. Currently the active research programme consists of a portfolio of five projects among which 2, still at the discovery stage, explore novel antibiotics with unprecedented anti-tuberculosis mechanisms. Additional projects seek to identify and develop novel mycobacterium enzymes/ targets. 

The development of improved diagnostics and detection methods are an integral part of ISTC activity in this field. Biochips to detect TB at an early stage and mobile test kits were developed. Both of these technologies have proven very useful in Russia and could be used in other countries where populations are not always close to medical centers. 

Read ISTC's press release issued in March 2010

Read ISTC's position paper on Tuberculosis Drug Discovery