Tuberculosis Research

[premedmind]

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I am an undergrad at a BIG research university.

I am going to start tuberculosis research/antibacterial drug research.

I just want to know what you guys think of this - as opposed to doing other research. Personally, I am interested in it, but I thought TB was a disease prevalent many years ago, not so much today. Although, I hear it's still very prevalent in Africa. The research is going to be based more on Synthetic Chemistry than Biological. I am working with a graduate student mentor and must commit 12hrs and earn 3 credits.

 

[punkindrublic]

I have a lot of experience working with TB (from a public health and clinical perspective, not pharm research), and I can tell you that it would probably be a really eye-opening experience. It's also very relevant to modern America, as the packed waiting room in the clinic I worked in can attest. I think from a pharm point of view it would be interesting as well, as I'm sure people are working on new drugs that are less hepatotoxic, don't have to be taken for months on end and are effective for the new strains that are multi or extremely drug resistant.

There's really too much to say about the topic in a forum like this, but I would very highly recommend it if you have the opportunity. Not only will it be really unique, but I think learning about TB can teach you an enormous amount about a lot of the issues that are facing modern medicine like access, economics, and social policy that allow it to survive to the extent it does.

 

[alesdu1]

idk what kind of research you'll be doing, but just know that mycobacterium are in general hard to grow in culture and they also divide very slowly (16-20 hrs as compared to say 20 min for e coli). therefore, id imagine it will be a little slow going....

therefore, the possibility exists that it might be hard to tweak out a publication if you're only there for say a year or two.

HAVING SAID THAT....

IMO, it isnt too important if you have a pub or not, as long as you can show that youve had significant experience in a lab. so bottom line, id say go with it too. sounds badass if anything else hehe

and TB is becoming "the new hot thing" again. read some of paul farmer's books....he predicts TB to be a serious global healthcare problem in the next two decades. its already starting with the us phs putting XR-TB (extremely drug resistant TB) patients under confinement...

 

[nomoreplz]

TB is actually extremely relevant these days. It is one of the biggest international health problems today, due in no small part to AIDS and increasing drug resistance. I have done research on the public health end of it down here in Texas, and the border region is full of TB. I would LOVE for you to do research on new antibacterial drugs for TB - we need them more than ever. There hasn't been a new drug specifically for TB in forever - mostly because it is a disease of the poor here in the States, and what good is that for making money? Le sigh

Anyway. Yes on the research. I don't see how it could be better, especially because you are interested in it.

 

[Blade28]

We have a lot of TB here. Also from where I come from (Hawaii).

BTW, I'm a stickler, but technically TB meds aren't antibacterials, they're either antimycobacterials or just antibiotics.