The European project SMA-TB concludes with significant advances in tuberculosis treatment

The SMA-TB project, an initiative funded by the European Commission's H2020 programme (GA No. 847762), has reached its conclusion after five years of research aimed at improving tuberculosis (TB) treatments. Coordinated by the Experimental Tuberculosis Unit (UTE) at the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), the project has explored how Host-Directed Therapies (HDT) can shorten treatment duration and improve outcomes by reducing excessive inflammation without generating additional drug resistance.

The project's key achievements include:

• The implementation of innovative methodologies and the completion of a randomised clinical trial, paving the way for new avenues of collaboration and research.
• The validation of clinical tests and the development of an open-access training kit, benefitting both researchers and healthcare professionals.
• The identification of biomarkers from the project's database and biobank, enabling the prediction of health outcomes and treatment responses.
• Collaboration among nine partners from seven countries, including training initiatives in South Africa and Georgia.
• A positive socio-economic impact, with the creation of new job and training opportunities, as well as a better understanding of the socio-economic situation of TB patients.

According to Cristina Vilaplana, project coordinator and principal investigator at IGTP's UTE: "Despite numerous challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and unforeseen changes within the consortium, we have successfully completed this project. The work carried out lays the foundation for future research and innovation in tuberculosis treatment".

The main scientific publications derived from the project will be released soon. In the meantime, further information is available through the following resources:

• Impact Video - Discover how the project has contributed to TB detection, control, and treatment:  Watch video
• Infographic - Key findings in figures and visuals:  View infographic
• Project Booklet - A detailed summary of the six work packages and the scientific advancements achieved:  View document