Closing the Gap in Tuberculosis Diagnosis Through AI and Biomarker Innovation
AddiCAD combines AI-powered chest X-ray analysis with a simple fingerstick blood test to improve the detection of tuberculosis in resource-limited settings.
The challenge
Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the world's deadliest infectious diseases. Every year, millions of people are affected, and many cases are diagnosed too late or remain undetected altogether. That is why early diagnosis is essential for effective treatment and reducing transmission. Existing diagnostic methods, however, can be costly, complex, or difficult to access in many high-burden regions.
The solution
The AddiCAD consortium is developing a new point-of-care diagnostic solution that combines artificial intelligence (AI) with biomarker-based testing. The approach integrates AI chest X-ray analysis (CAD4TB) with a small fingerstick blood test that measures biological markers associated with TB. By combining information from both sources, AddiCAD aims to provide more accurate results than existing methods used on their own.
Over the next three years, researchers and innovators from Africa and Europe will work together to develop, validate and prepare AddiCAD for future implementation. The project will test the technology in 1,000 adults across South Africa, Namibia and The Gambia and engage with regulatory, scientific and commercial stakeholders to support its adoption. Ultimately, AddiCAD aims to make rapid, affordable and reliable TB diagnosis available to the people who need it most.
The project at a glance
AddiCAD is a collaborative research project bringing together complementary expertise from across Africa and Europe. The project is structured into five work packages covering technology development, clinical validation and activities supporting future implementation.
Funding: 2.508.155 EUR (Global Health EDCTP3)
Project duration: 36 months
Work Package 1
Production of aptamer-based point-of-care biosensors with mobile application
Work Package 2
Clinical evaluation of AddiCAD
Work Package 3
Data management and analysis
Work Package 4
Communication, stakeholder engagement and commercialization
Work Package 5
Coordination, dissemination, and project management
Consortium partners
AddiCAD is coordinated by Prof Fanie Malherbe from Stellenbosch University and brings together partners from several African and European countries and institutions, including:
Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
LifeSADx (South Africa)
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (UK, The Gambia)
University of Namibia
Delft Imaging Systems (NL)
LINQ management GmbH (Germany)