The US Food and Drug Administration announced the award of US$ 2.9 million to support six research projects that will help with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of tuberculosis (TB).

TB remains a major public health challenge with an increasing prevalence worldwide. Two recent articles published by FDA’s Office of Critical Path Programs note that advances are urgently needed in TB drug development to shorten therapy and to treat drug-resistant disease.

“FDA recognized an urgent need for the engagement and leadership of public health institutions to promote this critical, but neglected, area of medical therapeutics,” said FDA Commissioner Margaret A Hamburg, Maryland.