As World TB Day approaches on March 24, NIAID’s TB Portals Program (TBPP) recognizes the progress made in the fight against tuberculosis (TB), and reaffirms its dedication to ending this global health crisis through equitable access to research resources.
Empowered by Data, Driven by Collaboration
Central to TBPP is its wealth of data, which makes it the world’s largest open-access TB data repository. The platform includes a vast array of clinical, socioeconomic, and laboratory data alongside annotated CTs, CXRs, and pathogen genomics from both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant cases. TBPP makes the de-identified and integrated data publicly available after quality checks and physician-verification.
This diverse data set, representing over 23,000 cases from 64 sites in 19 countries, is a crucial hub for collaborative research efforts.
Democratizing the Fight Against TB
Beyond data storage, TBPP is a global collaboration of clinicians, researchers, and data scientists united in the mission to eradicate TB. Through its open data science platform, TBPP democratizes the fight against TB by enabling researchers worldwide to contribute to and analyze data. The Program actively engages with developing countries, where most users and patient data originate, which underscores the Program’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility. By leveraging TBPP, researchers from around the globe can meaningfully contribute to the effort to end TB.
Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence
The analytical toolkit within the platform now integrates artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). AI tools play a pivotal role in digitally annotating lesions and computing severity scores on chest CTs, thereby facilitating TB diagnosis and research. This integration not only accelerates research but also promotes equity by ensuring all researchers, particularly those in resource-limited settings, can leverage the benefits of AI. Furthermore, the Program serves as an educational resource in data science, empowering the next generation of researchers.
With no financial barriers to access, TBPP bridges the gap for researchers who may otherwise lack access to quality TB data, fostering a diverse research community poised to make groundbreaking discoveries in the field. To read about research the TBPP data has already been used in, visit the TBPP’s Publications page.
As we observe World TB Day, TBPP stands as a beacon for a more equitable global response to tuberculosis, uniting data and tools for analysis in pursuit of our shared goals.
TBPP welcomes collaborations from researchers worldwide. Visit TB Portals or email TBPortalsInfo@niaid.nih.gov to learn more about how the platform can advance your research.
As the TB community continues forward in the fight against TB, let us harness the power of collaboration and technology to ensure a healthier future for all. Yes, we can end TB!