PRECISION-asympTB was submitted under the EDCTP3 2026 Call on Tuberculosis. Despite decades of global efforts, TB remains one of the leading infectious causes of death worldwide. One of the greatest challenges today is the large number of people living with asymptomatic tuberculosis; individuals who do not show classic TB symptoms, but who may still progress to active disease and contribute to transmission within their communitiesan. PRECISION-asympTB is ambitious multicountry Phase III research initiative aimed at transforming the early detection and management of asymptomatic tuberculosis in sub-Saharan Africa and it is designed to address exactly this hidden dimension of the epidemic.
The project brings together an international consortium of African and European institutions with extensive expertise in tuberculosis research, clinical trials, diagnostics, and public health implementation. Over the next five years, the initiative aims to evaluate innovative strategies for the early identification and optimized treatment of asymptomatic TB in vulnerable populations across Uganda, Tanzania, and Gabon.
At the center of the project is a large multicountry Phase III platform trial that combines advanced molecular screening technologies with tailored treatment approaches. The study will investigate whether shorter and simplified treatment regimens can safely and effectively treat bacteriologically confirmed asymptomatic TB, while also exploring more targeted management strategies for individuals with unconfirmed early disease.
PRECISION-asympTB will also assess the role of innovative diagnostic tools, including enhanced NAAT-based screening and next-generation sequencing–assisted exhaled breath analysis, with the goal of improving early detection in people who are often missed by traditional symptom-based approaches.Particular attention will be dedicated to populations most at risk, including people living with HIV, pregnant and postpartum women, adolescents, and household contacts.
Beyond the scientific objectives, the project strongly invests in capacity building, equitable international collaboration, and the strengthening of research infrastructures and clinical expertise across participating countries. The ultimate ambition is to generate robust evidence capable of informing future WHO recommendations and supporting national TB control programmes in moving toward more proactive, precise, and patient-centered strategies.
PRECISION-asympTB represents not only a research project, but a broader effort to shift the paradigm of tuberculosis control: from late detection to early intervention, from generalized approaches to precision management, and from reactive care to prevention-oriented public health.
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