The ICE-Screen TB - Asia project is designed to in part address these challenges by supporting programs and innovative implementers enhance the cost-effectiveness of community-wide systematic screening for TB in high-prevalence areas (here defined as estimated TB prevalence above 200/100,000, from countries listed below). By integrating advanced screening tools and methodologies, this initiative seeks to create models and associated evidence for cost-effective, scalable screening solutions. We invite teams from eligible countries to submit concept notes proposing innovative approaches to implement, test, and evaluate new TB screening strategies and approaches that are sufficiently affordable and cost effective for countries to scale up.
This investment opportunity aims to galvanize partnerships between programs and researchers to tackle the operational challenges that currently hinder the cost-effectiveness and scalability of community-wide systematic screening. We are particularly interested in concept notes from high TB burden regions in Asia that can leverage existing funded screening projects. Concept notes should focus on making screening more cost-effective, integrating novel tools such as affordable point-of-care (PoC) confirmatory tests, and evaluating the effectiveness of dCXR/AI-based screening compared to mass molecular testing.