Defining the tuberculosis research agenda for the WHO European Region: a study report of the European TB Research Initiative (2019)

2019, x + 39 pages
ISBN 978 92 890 5431 7
This publication is only available online.

The WHO European Region incorporates 53 Member States with reported incidence of tuberculosis (TB) ranging from near elimination to rates exceeding 100 per 100 000 population. It includes 18 high-priority countries to end TB in the WHO European Region, nine of them in the top 30 countries with the highest burden globally of multidrug-resistant TB. Potentially untreatable cases of extensively drug-resistant forms of TB and an increase of HIV coinfection, if not adequately addressed, will threaten the Region's ability to achieve the 2030 End TB Strategy targets. A modified Delphi consultation of core experts in the Region was used to obtain a set of research questions. An online questionnaire was developed and submitted in a public consultation of stakeholders in the Region to produce a ranked and prioritized list. The prioritized research questions covered three thematic areas: (i) epidemiological research; (ii) research in basic sciences, new diagnostic tools, novel drugs and vaccines; and (iii) operational and public health research. This study is intended to provide a prioritized research agenda for TB in the WHO European Region to guide implementation research and strengthen evidence-based TB control policies.