We are delighted to announce the six successful recipients of the 2025 TB CRE Seed Funding Grant. Each project has been awarded $25,000 to support innovative pilot studies and strategic activities that align with the TB CRE’s mission to improve TB control in Australia and the region.

These grants foster collaboration across institutions and disciplines, and aim to generate data that will strengthen future applications for external funding.

The successful projects are:

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1. Optimising Pulmonary mRNA Vaccines to Induce Lung-Resident Memory T Cells Against TB

Chief Investigator: Prof Jamie Triccas (University of Sydney)

Team Members:

• Claudio Counoupas (Centenary Institute)

• Lisa Harris-Meo (University of Sydney)

2. RISE (Responsive, Inclusive and Safe Engagement): Piloting methodological innovations to support community-centered implementation science to strengthen effective delivery of Active Case Finding (ACF)

Chief Investigator: Assoc Prof Sarah Bernays (University of Sydney)

Team Members:

• Dr Jeremy Hill (Centenary Institute & University of Sydney)

• Prof Warwick Britton (Centenary Institute)

• Ms Kerrie Shaw (Centenary Institute)

• Dr Elizabeth Kirkwood (University of Sydney)

• Prof Ben Marais (University of Sydney)

• Dr Alvin Teo (University of Sydney)

• Prof Thu Anh Nguyen (Sydney Vietnam Institute & University of Sydney)

• Dr Chris Lowbridge (Menzies School of Health Research)

• Dr Neha Faruqui (University of Sydney)

3. Including Patient Values in TB Care Priorities – Operationalising Data and Process to Maximise Policy Translation for Both Sides of the Border (PVal-TB)

Chief Investigator: Prof Justin Denholm (University of Melbourne)

Team Members:

• Graeme Hoddinott (University of Sydney)

• Sarah Bernays (University of Sydney)

• Diego S. Silva (University of Sydney)

• Thu Anh Nguyen (University of Sydney; Sydney Vietnam Institute)

• Duy Trinh Hoang (University of Sydney; Sydney Vietnam Institute)

• Phan Nguyen Huong Ngoc Genevieve (Sydney Vietnam Institute)

• Thu Thuong Do (University of Sydney)

• Thu Giang Le (University of Sydney)

4. Pharmacy-Led Tuberculosis Case Finding in Vietnam: A Feasibility and Implementation Study

Chief Investigator: Prof Thu Anh Nguyen (Sydney Vietnam Institute)

Team Members:​

• Dr Shukry Zawahir (University of Sydney)

• A/Prof Nguyen Binh Hoa – NTP Vietnam  

• Prof Greg J Fox (University of Sydney)

• Prof Ben Marais  (University of Sydney)

• Prof Timothy Chen (University of Sydney)

• Prof Bandana Saini (University of Sydney)

• Dr Son Tu Nguyen (Hanoi University of Pharmacy)  

• Dr Phuong Nguyen (NTP Vietnam)

• Ms Thi Thao Nguyen (Hanoi University of Pharmacy) 

5. BUMP-TB: Better Use of Screening Methods in Pregnancy for TB

Chief Investigator: Prof Steve Graham (University of Melbourne)

Team Members:

• Alison Morton (University of Melbourne) 

• A/Prof Sarah Dunstan (University of Melbourne) 

• Dr Philipp du Cros (Burnet Institute and TB CRE Associate Investigator) 

• Dr Pauline Masta (Port Moresby General Hospital and University of Papua New Guinea) 

• A/Prof Henry Welch (Port Moresby General Hospital and University of Papua New Guinea) 

6. A Poly-signature Biomarker to Predict Relapse-Free Cure

Chief Investigator: A/Prof Bernadette Saunders (University of Technology Sydney)

Team Members:

• Dr Gail Cross (Burnet Institute; Monash Health; TB CRE member)

• Prof Helen Cox (Burnet Institute)

• Dr Phil du Cros (Burnet Institute; Monash Health; TB CRE Associate Investigator)

• Dr Khai Huang (Burnet Institute; Northern Health; TB CRE Associate Investigator)

• Dr Simone Barry (Royal Adelaide Hospital; Head of SA TB Service; TB CRE Associate Investigator)

• Dr Geoff Eather (Metro South Health, Queensland)

• Dr Harshini Sivaramakrishnan (Metro South Health, Queensland)

• A/Prof Jin-Gun Cho (Parramatta Chest Clinic, NSW; TB CRE Associate Investigator)

• A/Prof Anna Coussens (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute; TB CRE Associate Investigator)

• A/Prof Melinda Suchard (Medical Microbiologist; Honorary Principal Fellow, University of Melbourne)

These projects reflect the TB CRE’s commitment to advancing tuberculosis research through collaboration, innovation, and strategic investment. We look forward to the progress and impact these initiatives will deliver over the coming year.