The Early Career Researchers were selected by the Steering Committee and Working Group Chairs of the iPTBS3, through an online application process. They were selected for their current ongoing research and potential for future leadership within the field of post-tuberculosis. They participated in the Working Groups and in the development of content for the Symposium and Workshops in particular.
We caught up with them after the symposium to find out what their biggest takeaway or learning from the 3rd International Post-TB Symposium was.
Adwoa Afrane
University of Ghana (Senior Lecturer) researching PTLD impairment and health-related quality of life in Ghanaian children and adolescents.
"Research specifically focused on children with PTLD remains woefully inadequate. What became crystal clear at this symposium is that we cannot simply apply adult approaches to pediatric populations - we need child-centered longitudinal studies across different age groups. This knowledge gap represents both our greatest challenge and our most promising opportunity. By addressing these paediatric research needs with urgency and dedication, we can finally offer evidence-based hope to millions of children affected by this overlooked consequence of TB disease."
Ahmed Ddungu
Makerere University Lung Institute & Makerere University Infectious Diseases Institute (THD Fellow) researching the role of adjuvant doxycycline in prevention of TB-associated lung fibrosis.
"Learnt about the upcoming improvements in definition of post-TB lung disease."
Ailva O'Reilly
University of Leicester (Clinical Research Fellow) researching the health and healthcare of TB survivors in the UK.
"It was a privilege to be a member of the symposium's Epidemiology Working Group, which strengthened my understanding of the key epidemiological questions in post-TB research. At the symposium I was enthused by the breadth of research going on around the world and how the post-TB research community are able to connect and collaborate. Highlights for me were on optimising national data and the process of developing clear definitions for post-TB conditions such as PTLD. I am confident that what I've learned will improve the quality of my own research in the UK."
Citra Cesilia
University of Riau & Arifin Achmad General Hospital (Assistant Professor) researching PTLD in adolescent TB survivors.
"The symposium also provided invaluable opportunities to learn from world-leading experts, engage in cross-disciplinary discussions, and build meaningful collaborations with researchers and clinicians from diverse global settings, deepening my commitment to advancing the understanding and management of post-TB lung disease in children and adolescents."
Edson Marambire
Biomedical Research and Training Institute (PhD Candidate) researching mycobacterial transmission and intergrated screening.
"Although I was unable to attend the International Post-TB Symposium in person, it was a privilege to be part of the preparation as a Patient Perspectives Early Career Development Fellow. The experience broadened my understanding of the long-term impact of TB and the importance of centering patient voices in post-TB care. I am grateful for the opportunity to engage with global peers and remain committed to contributing toward improved outcomes for TB survivors in low-resource settings."
Guy Kayeye Muula
Centre for Infectious Disease Research In Zambia (Clinic Research Fellow) researching treatment outcome of HIV/TB co-infected patients.
"It was an honor and privilege to participate in the preparation of the international post-TB symposium as an early career researcher even if I did not attend the main event in Cape Town. I learned from global experts on management and approved interventions; but the challenge still resides on the diagnosis and prediction of post-TB lung disease and how to fit the interventions for either prevention or treatment."
Han Nguyen
Karolinska Institutet (PhD Candidate) & FIT RD (Senior Clinical Trial Manager) researching diagnostic accuracy and feasibility of novel point-of-care tests for active TB detection, and long-term respiratory outcomes and integrated models of care for TB survivors.
"I learned a great deal from the 3rd International Post-TB Symposium, but my biggest takeaway was the networking opportunities and the chance to engage directly with leading experts in the field. I was honored to serve as a facilitator for three workshops, which was an incredibly enriching experience that deepened my understanding of key topics in post-TB care and strengthened my communication and leadership skills."
Jordan Lakey
Stellenbosch University (PhD Candidate) researching pulmonary physiology and functional performance in adult TB survivors.
"As an early career researcher, I was a part of the Post-TBM Working Group at the Post-TB Symposium, where I gained valuable insight into the importance of holistic, patient-centered care in post-TB research. The discussions throughout the Post-TB Symposium highlighted the need to move beyond measuring impairments alone and to understand the broader lived experience of TB survivors. Ultimately, we must ensure that clinical research is both relatable and applicable in resource-limited settings, so that everyone has equitable access to care."
Julieth Lalashowi
National institute for Medical Research, Mbeya (PhD Candidate) researching cardiovascular complications after TB treatment.
"A deeper insight about post TB outcomes, the importance of collaborative approaches in addressing post-TB complications, and the emergence of innovative management strategies such as the 'treatable traits' approach."
Kamban Hirasen
University of the Witwatersrand (Senior Researcher) researching the cost of post-TB care from health system and patient perspectives.
"For thousands affected, completing treatment is only the beginning of a longer, often complicated and costly healthcare journey. Our research should expand beyond simply quantifying binary clinical outcomes such as cure rates, and instead include the context and quality of the cure."
Luthando Vazi
Stellenbosch University (PhD Candidate) researching MCID's for adult TB survivors with or without PTLD.
"I gained valuable insight into how my research aligns with the current direction needed to address key gaps in the PTLD literature. I've become acutely aware of the importance of my work in shaping future intervention studies and informing policy recommendations, particularly around the screening and assessment of PTLD features in patients transitioning out of TB treatment programmes."
Maria Puthoor
Liverpool Univeristy Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Clinical Research Fellow) researching prevention and management strategies for PTLD, and identifying and mitigating risk factors of PTLD.
"I had the opportunity to contribute to the plenaries and workshops for both the PTLD Diagnosis and Prevention and PTLD Management working groups. This experience - working with clinicians, researchers, and policymakers, and hearing from TB survivors - highlighted the value of multidisciplinary collaboration and the importance of centering post-TB research around the experiences and priorities of TB survivors."
Oluwatosin Nkereuwem
Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (Research Coordinator) researching childhood and adolescent TB advocacy.
Samhita Kumar
Emory University (PhD Candidate) researching mental health and psychosocial wellbeing.
"I was pleased to see the recognition and advocacy for mental health in the post-TB agenda, as well as the numerous studies that integrate or reflect on mental health in their frameworks and data. Mental health has always been a neglected domain within the broader discussion of health and well-being, and it's finally getting more of a spotlight. It is so central in how people experience and recover from TB disease and related morbidities. Coming from the global mental health sector, I'm particularly interested in the integration of mental health and TB services as well as the psychosocial experiences of people affected by tuberculosis. Through my dissertation research, I'm excited to better understand these issues using both qualitative and quantitative methods."
Seke G Y Muzazu
Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Zambia (PhD Candidate) researching TB diagnostics and the care cascade.
"Though many, my biggest takeaways from this symposium were the urgent need for standardisation of definitions and measures in PTB research and despite the many clear gaps in research and programs regarding PTLD, evidence exists for low resource interventions that can be implemented during and after TB treatment to improve patient outcomes in various settings."
