Union World Conference on Lung Health 2023

We look forward to welcoming you to The Union World Conference on Lung Health 2023, where we will discuss tuberculosis diagnostics as we join together to reach more patients sooner.

Session summary: 

Lost progress toward TB eradication was an unfortunate byproduct of the Covid-19 pandemic. The 2030 End TB Strategy milestones are quickly approaching and reaching more patients is required, ideally, with minimal infrastructure investment. The development of more sensitive molecular diagnostics in recent years combined with alternative sample types targeting pulmonary TB may prove essential in accelerating eradication. Here we discuss how the introduction of dorsal tongue swabs can be implemented to potentially help clinicians diagnose more patients and aid in reducing overall transmission. Experts from National TB Programmes and Policy discuss the clinical results to date and potential implementation pathways as we join together to reach more patients sooner.

Venue: 
Palais des Congrès - 2 Place de la Porte Maillot – Paris, France – Room 243

Chair: 
Akos Somoskovi, MD, PhD, DSc - Director, Clinical Development, Infection & Immunity - Roche Diagnostics Solutions

Panel members:
Morten Ruhwald, MD, PhD - Head of TB program, Foundation of Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Geneva, Switzerland

Lesley Scott, PhD - Head of Research and Development Wits Diagnostic Innovation Hub, Faculty of Health Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

Sandeep Meharwal, PhD – Technical Director – FHI360, Bangkok, Thailand 

Kaiser Shen, MS, MPH - Senior TB Laboratory and Diagnostic Network Advisor - United States Agency for International Development, Baltimore, United States

Lunch will be provided