3rd Conference on Innovations in Tuberculosis 2026

Tuberculosis (TB) caused 1.6 million deaths in 2021, making it the leading cause of death among infectious diseases, surpassing HIV. Yet, it is a curable and preventable disease. While a quarter of the global population has been infected, only 5-10% of infected individuals develop symptoms. The regions with the highest burden are South-East Asia, Africa, and the Western Pacific. This bacterial disease is treated with a long course of antibiotics. However, treatment options for Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) are limited, and MDR-TB remains a public health crisis and a health security threat.

TB is a priority on the global health agenda. The coordinated efforts of national and global leadership, research organizations, and civil society strive to achieve a world free of TB. However, equitable access to prevention, testing, treatment, and care remains a challenge. On the other hand, we are witnessing the emergence of encouraging new tools to curb TB. A recent study demonstrated a remarkable reduction in TB transmission due to nutritional supplements offered to household contacts, providing an evidence-based approach to addressing structural determinants of TB, such as malnutrition. On the biomedical side, a historic milestone appears to be within reach, with the late-stage clinical evaluation of a vaccine to prevent the pulmonary form of TB in adolescents and adults, developed by the Gates Foundation. In parallel, new treatment guidelinesfor 6-month all-oral regimens for MDR-TB offer simplified treatment options for these patients.

Despite these exciting developments and innovations, they are primarily discussed at major international meetings, which in turn offers limited opportunities for researchers and healthcare professionals from high-burden countries in Africa. This also restricts discussions tailored to regional epidemiological situations, healthcare, and societal contexts. Therefore, we propose a platform to disseminate clinically relevant innovations and discuss their translation and implementation in Africa, considering region-specific epidemic patterns, available prevention, testing, and treatment options, and healthcare settings.

For more information and registration, please visit the VE | AME conference webpage: https://academicmedicaleducation.com/programs/3rd-conference-on-innovations-in-tuberculosis-2026