# Modeling approaches to prioritize TB prevention among people with HIV in Uganda

> **NIH NIH K01** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2020 · $128,845

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 The goal of this proposed K01 mentored career development award is to support Dr. Jennifer Ross’s
research training in the advanced epidemiologic methods of geospatial and mathematical modeling of HIV and
tuberculosis (TB) to further her goal of developing targeting strategies for prevention of TB among people living
with HIV (PLHIV). Dr. Ross is currently an Acting Instructor/Senior Fellow in infectious diseases at the University
of Washington. This award will support her development in modeling methods and implementation science to
facilitate her transition to becoming an independent investigator. She will receive mentorship from Dr. Ruanne
Barnabas, Professor Simon Hay, Dr. David Dowdy, and Dr. Judith Wasserheit for this award.
 The research goal of the award is to maximize the public health impact of preventive therapy (PT), either
with isoniazid alone or with rifapentine, for TB prevention in HIV-infected individuals using cutting-edge
geospatial models that integrate existing epidemiologic information. TB is the leading cause of death among
PLHIV in sub-Saharan Africa, including those recently started on antiretroviral (ART) therapy in Uganda. PT
prevents tuberculosis and TB-associated mortality among PLHIV, but fewer than 5% of eligible Ugandans
receive it due to limited resources to successfully implement PT programs. This award will marry the expanding
sources of TB and HIV surveillance data in Uganda with the expertise at UW and the Institute for Health Metrics
and Evaluation in spatiotemporal and mathematical modeling to produce novel tools that guide PT
implementation.
 This K01 proposal will inform the prioritization of PT through three research aims. In the first aim, Dr.
Ross will examine the relationship between ART coverage and geographic predictors of TB with TB prevalence,
incidence, and mortality among PLHIV using geospatial and mathematical models. In the second aim, Dr. Ross
will estimate the impact of PT implementation on HIV-TB mortality using mathematical models of a regionally-
targeted implementation strategy versus uniform roll-out. Finally, in the third aim, Dr. Ross will engage
stakeholders to inform model development, evaluate the effect of engagement with the model on stakeholder
support of modeling, and facilitate implementation of targeted TB prevention.
 This award will support Dr. Ross to dedicate more than 75% of her effort to research as she furthers her
learning in the methods and application of state-of-the-art geospatial and mathematical modeling techniques.
Acquiring these advanced skills will facilitate her future R01 proposals. With her clinical training in infectious
disease, her outstanding mentorship, and the support of this award to further develop her expertise, Dr. Ross
will be well-positioned to contribute to the control of TB and HIV epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9834828
- **Project number:** 5K01AI138620-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Jennifer M Ross
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $128,845
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-12-11 → 2022-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9834828

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9834828, Modeling approaches to prioritize TB prevention among people with HIV in Uganda (5K01AI138620-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9834828. Licensed CC0.

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