This achievement is a component of the Dare2eraD TB program (Data Driven Research to Eradicate TB), launched on March 24, 2022. The program emphasizes data-driven research to combat TB and includes the Indian Tuberculosis Genomic Surveillance (InTGS) Consortium. This consortium is a collaboration among the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and major clinicall institutions. The initiative aims to sequence overr 32,000 TB isolates to identify drug resistance mutations and enhance treatment outcomes.
Reflecting on India’s historical challenges with TB, they emphasized the importance of community engagement, stating that TB eradication is not solely a scientific or medical challenge but also a societal one. He called for increased public participation to raise awareness and combat the stigma associated with the disease.
This genomic breakthrough is expected to bolster both national and global efforts to combat TB, moving India closer to its goal of a TB-free nation ahead of the 2025 target.
