qMR-TB
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Quantitative MRI for detection, phenotyping and monitoring of immunopathology in pulmonary tuberculosis
IRAS ID
358796
Contact name
Gabriele Pollara
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2023/12/92, UCL Data Protection Registration Number
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 10 months, 0 days
Research summary
Globally there are >10.6 million tuberculosis (TB) disease cases annually, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, primarily affecting the lungs. Antibiotics microbiologically cure >85% of individuals, but end-of-treatment residual lung abnormalities are seen in >50%, associated with reduced exertional capacity, quality of life and survival. Understanding the disease process and new treatments for ’post-TB lung disease’ remains a global research priority.
Exaggerated immune responses in TB result in post-TB consequences include lung cavitation, fibrosis, large airway scarring and small airway obstruction. These are routinely measured by chest x-ray (CXR), but this is limited by sensitivity. CT scans use significant ionising radiation exposure, and 18F-FDG PET/CT accentuates the radiation issue.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) involves no radiation and in active TB disease can detect lung tissue changes and post-treatment structural abnormalities with comparable sensitivity to CT. However, qualitative use of conventional MRI can be subjective, and identifying inflammation is problematic because this is affected by the presence of fibrosis (in the lung) and fat (in the mediastinum and lymph nodes), making it difficult to interpret when these overlap.
We have overcome these problems by developing quantitative MRI (qMRI) techniques. This uses dedicated scans that measure the properties of background tissue, providing a means to look at inflammation in isolation. We have developed objective and consistent semi-automated methods for assessing the distribution, nature and severity of this inflammation.
We have used this approach successfully in inflammatory arthritis, and in this study we will use this novel qMRI technique to better measure the degree of inflammation in the lungs of individuals with TB disease. Our overall aim is to discover biomarkers of lung inflammation that will help us 1) risk stratify individuals at risk of lung damage & 2) better assess new therapies that try to dampen excess inflammation in TB disease.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
25/WS/0180
Date of REC Opinion
15 Dec 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion