Centre for Tuberculosis Research

CENTER FOR TUBERCULOSIS RESEARCH

PROFILE

The Center for Tuberculosis Research (CTBR) is a unique collaborative Research Center in the Department of Microbiology of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research. The first National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory in Nigeria is domiciled within this Center.

The Center for Tuberculosis Research (CTBR), is a unique collaborative Research Center founded in July 2017 in the Department of Microbiology of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research. The first National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory in Nigeria is domiciled within this Center. This Center contributes to the WHO End TB Strategy programme through research, service and training. CTBR conducts a range of multi-disciplinary research and training by dedicated scientists and support staff in collaboration with universities, public and private sector organizations within the sub-region and internationally.

Research

Our research is focused on tuberculosis (TB) epidemiology, drug resistance, evaluation of novel diagnostics, genomics and laboratory management of MDRTB patients. Current research is supported by the Nigerian Government (Nigerian Institute of Medical Research and International organization (West African Node of Excellence for TB, AIDS and Malaria [WANETAM]. We also access grants for our research activities.

Research Team:

CTBR is comprised of four Research Scientists, five Laboratory Scientists, two Laboratory Technologists, two Scientific Officers and four adhoc scientists and a few support staff.

S/N	NAME	DESIGNATION
RESEARCH FELLOW
1	Mrs. C. N. Kunle-Ope	Research Fellow II/Head
2	Dr. N. N. Onyejepu	Chief Research Fellow
3	Dr. (Mrs.) O. F. Davies-Bolorunduro	Research Fellow I
4	Mrs. I. T. Ndubuisi	Research Fellow II
MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST
5	Mrs. N. E. Tochukwu	Chief Medical Laboratory Scientist
6	Mr. A. A. Adesesan	Chief Medical Laboratory Scientist
7	Rev. Sr. C. O. Ejezie	Chief Medical Laboratory Scientist
8	Mrs. M. A. A. Adetunji	Asst. Chief Med. Laboratory Scientist
9	Mr. S. J. Nduaga	Asst. Chief Med. Laboratory Scientist
SCIENCE LABORATORY SCIENTIST
10	Mrs. I. O. Edu-muyideen	Chief Science Laboratory Technologist
11	Mrs. A. T. Abiodun	Principal Laboratory Technologist
SCIENTIFIC OFFICER
12	Mrs. B. O. Acholo	Scientific Officer II
13	Mr. G. R. Lawal	Scientific Officer II
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
14	Mr. D. Airekhome	Administrative Officer
15	Mrs. C. J. Alaribe	Clerical Officer I
16	Mrs. L. Allen	Clerical Officer I
ADHOC STAFF
17	Mr. K. Atoe	Senior Programme Officer (IHVN)
18	Mrs. C. C. Okorie	Medical Laboratory Scientist (IHVN)
19	Miss B. N. Omolie	Medical Laboratory Scientist (IHVN)
PROJECT STAFF
20	Miss O. K. Mustapha	Science Laboratory Technologist
21	Miss T. S. Allison	Data Officer
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR
22	Prof. S. I. B. Cadmus

ACHIEVEMENT

Evaluated national treatment options for DRTB
Successfully re-assessed by SANAS for ISO 15189 accreditation
Good performance in External Quality Assurance programmes
Received equipment support from IHVN

The Centre has research groups to improve research output namely:

TB Diagnostic & Epidemiology Research Group – conducts research into:

TB Diagnosis
- Characterizing, tracking trends and profile of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex (MTBC) including Mycobacterium bovis and Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM).
TB Epidemiology
- Molecular epidemiology of TB
- Genetic diversity of TB
Research on diagnostic and monitoring tools
- Method verification and comparison of diagnostic laboratory methods
- Evaluation of novel diagnostics

(For more details contact Mrs. Kunle-Ope C. N. chiomakunleope@gmail.com, cnkunle-ope@nimr.gov.ng)

TB Drug Resistance and Pharmocogenomics Research Group – conducts research into:

Drug resistance of mycobacteria
Antimycobacterial natural products
Pharmocogenomics

(For more details contact Dr. Davis-Bolourunduro O. F. bizdave1@gmail.com, davies-bolorunduro@nimr.gov.ng)

Ongoing Research Activities

Triage Test for All Oral DR-TB Regimen (TRIAD) (In Collaboration with Institute of Human Virology, Abuja, Nigeria)
Desk Review with Whole Genome Sequencing of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis
Correlation of Clinical Outcomes of Patients on Anti-Tuberculosis Regimen
Exploration of Marine Bacterial Community Genomics in Nigeria Coastal Waters for Prospective Novel Drugs and Bio-pharmaceutics (In Collaboration with Microbiology Department, University of Lagos)
Phase 2 Sequencing of Drug Resistant TB (REST HUB) Project – CTBR (In collaboration with In Collaboration with US CDC and Institute of Human Virology, Abuja, Nigeria)
Genomic Information Surveillance on Drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Isolates from Nigeria/TB-Portal – CTBR (In Collaboration with Adjunct Professor)
Transposing multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis molecular and genomic epidemiology to Public Health and Product Development in Nigeria (In Collaboration with University of Lisbon, Portugal)

Completed Research Activities

Phase 1 Sequencing of Drug Resistant TB (REST HUB) Project – (In collaboration with US CDC and Institute of Human Virology, Abuja, Nigeria)
Whole Genome Sequencing for Investigating Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Transmission, Genetic Diversity and Multi-Drug Resistance Prediction in Lagos, Nigeria – (In Collaboration with Redeemer University)
Molecular Epidemiology and Multidrug Resistance Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex
Susceptibility Testing of Delamanid and Bedaquinine using BACTEC MGIT 960 – (In collaboration with Institute of Human Virology, Abuja, Nigeria and Nation TB Control Programme)
Diagnosis of TB and Management of Paediatric TB (EDCTP-WANETAM Grant)
Study on the Evaluation of Respiratory Tract Bacterial Co-infections with COVID-19 Severity in Lagos, Nigeria
Bioprospecting for Antituberculous Potentials of Culturable Marine Actinomycetes from Lagos Lagoon Sediments

Grant Awards

EDCTP-WANETAM-3 Grant – Dr. Onyejepu N.
HORIZON-JU-GH-EDCTP3-2022-CALL 1-01-03 – Dr. Onyejepu N.
NIMR Innovation Grant – Dr. Onyejepu N.
Postdoc in Mahidol University, Thailand – Dr. Davies-Bolorunduro O.F
EDCTP-WANETAM-2 Grant – Dr. Onyejepu N.
EDCTP TMA Award – Dr. Onyejepu N.

Laboratory services: National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory

The Center offers diagnostic services for pulmonary and extra-pulmonary TB using both conventional and molecular methodologies under quality management system, good clinical and laboratory practice (GCLP). The CTBR is equipped with biosafety level 2 and 3 laboratories and a molecular diagnostic suite. We also prepare quality panels for public and private laboratories on TB microscopy and geneXpert. Our service is supported by the Nigerian Government (National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme), implementing partners (Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria) and Tuberculosis Supra Reference Laboratory, Milan, Italy, Tuberculosis Supra Reference Laboratory, Antwerp, Belgium and Tuberculosis Supra Reference Laboratory, Cotonou, Benin).

In November 2019, CTBR obtained international accreditation to ISO15189 by South Africa National System (SANAS) on TB Microscopy and PCR-TB Identification and Drug Susceptibility Tests (GeneXpert and Hain). In January 2022, the Centre was successfully re-assed and the scope of accreditation was expanded to include TB Culture and Drug Susceptibility Testing.

PRICE LIST FOR TB TEST

S/N	TEST	PRICE (₦)
DIAGNOSIS USING CONVENTIONAL METHODS
1	Sputum Smear Microscopy using Ziehl Nelsen (ZN) Stain	5,000.00
2	Sputum Smear Microscopy using Fluorescence (FM) Stain	5,000.00
3	Sputum Smear Microscopy and Culture on Solid Media (Lowenstein Jensen)	10,000.00
4	Sputum Smear Microscopy and Culture on Liquid Media (MGIT BACTEC 960 TB System) Only	30,000.00
5	Sputum Smear Microscopy, Culture and Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST) on Solid Media (Lowenstein Jensen) for First Line Drugs using Proportion Method	25,000.00
6	Sputum Smear Microscopy, Culture and Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST) on Solid Media (Lowenstein Jensen) for First- and Second-Line Drugs using Proportion Method	30,000.00
7	Sputum Smear Microscopy, Culture and Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST) in Liquid Media (MGIT BACTEC 960 TB System) for First Line Drugs Only	40,000.00
8	Sputum Smear Microscopy, Culture and Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST) in liquid media (MGIT BACTEC 960 TB System) for First- and Second-Line Drugs	50,000.00
DIAGNOSIS USING MOLECULAR METHODS
9	Diagnosis of TB and Detection of resistance to Rifampicin from Sputum/Stool Samples using GeneXpert	10,000.00
10	Diagnosis of TB and Detection of resistance to First Line Anti-TB Drugs (Rifampicin and Isoniazid) using Hain GenoType MTBDRplus (Line Probe Assay) Only	30,000.00
11	Diagnosis of TB and Detection of resistance First Line (Rifampicin and Isoniazid) and Second Line (Fluoroquinolones and Aminoglycosides) Anti-TB Drugs using Hain GenoType MTBDRplus (Line Probe Assay)	60,000.00
12	Species identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other mycobacteria other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis using Hain GenoType CM/AS (Line Probe Assay)	30,000.00
13	Quality Panel Preparation for AFB Microscopy & GeneXpert	Subject to negotiation

Data Management Services

Data management services are provided to clients and the cost depends on the number of data units and duration needed.

NB: Cost of a data services will be based on the sample size multiplied by the unit price with 10% concession for data more than 1 year.

S/N	DATA	UNIT PRICE	BULK PRICE
1.	Data on GeneXpert	N5,000	Sample Size X Unit Price
2.	Data on AFB Microscopy	N 5000	Sample Size X Unit Price
3.	Data on First-line LPA Second line LPA Both first and second-line LPA	N8000 N8000 N15000	Sample Size x Unit Price Sample Size x Unit Price Sample Size X Unit Price.
4.	Data on Culture & DST First-line drugs Second-line drugs Both first and second-line drugs	N8000 N8000 N15000	Sample Size x Unit Price Sample Size x Unit Price Sample Size x Unit Price

Biorespository

The Center has characterized mycobacterial collections in her bio-repository which can be accessed for research. Terms and condition apply.

Training Programme:

The Centre utilizes its facilities for training of research scientists, and other organizations involved in Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) and other mycobacteria projects. We also provide hands on training for students on Internship and Industrial Training on TB Diagnostics as listed below:

AFB Microscopy using light and fluorescence microscope
GeneXpert
Line Probe Assay (LPA) – First- & Second-Line Anti-TB Drugs
Culture using solid (Loweinstein Jenseen media) and liquid (BACTEC MGIT 960 System)
Indentification of TB isolates using conventional biochemical tests and molecular methods
Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST) using solid (Loweinstein Jenseen media) and liquid (BACTEC MGIT 960 System) – First- & Second-Line Anti-TB Drugs
MIRU-VNTR Typing
Sequencing

We also provide training on the following:

Biosafety training
Advanced tuberculosis reasearch for health professional and post graduate students
Establising and maintaining quality assured TB laboratory services for public and private health practitioners
Diagnosis, treatment and conduct of research on multi drug resistant TB (MDR-TB)

Other Services provided by the Center:

Quality audit for laboratories using SLPTA checklist
Monitoring and supervision for public and private laboratories
Technical assistance for public and private laboratories
Mentorship on Quality Management Systems for laboratories preparing for accreditation

E-mail: ctbr.micro@nimr.gov.ng