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ITARA research programme

Developing pathways to Integrated TB and Respiratory care in Africa (ITARA)

The ITARA Programme is a four-year NIHR funded programme of work, which will use transdisciplinary research methods to develop novel approaches to integrated tuberculosis (TB) and respiratory care in Africa.

The grant is based at Imperial College London, with study sites in Arusha in Tanzania, Nairobi in Kenya, and Lagos in Nigeria.

Focus of work

Pulmonary tuberculosis and respiratory diseases are closely linked in low-resource settings, with shared risk factors (E.g. Poverty related risk factors, smoking, occupational exposures) and clinical presentations. Pulmonary TB can also directly cause chronic post-TB lung damage. Despite this overlap, TB and respiratory services are often delivered separately in Africa. TB care is provided via well-resourced and administered vertical National TB Programmes, whilst respiratory care is often provided via less well defined and resourced health systems.

The ITARA programme will use transdisciplinary research methods (clinical epidemiology, ethnography, health economics, and health systems) to understand existing approaches to TB and respiratory care in Africa, and will inform the development of novel frameworks for integrated person-centred services.

ITARA Programme Partners

	National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, UK	The NHLI is one of the largest departments in the world undertaking heart, lung and vascular research. Their mission is to discover, educate and improve heart and lung health for all.
	Centre for Respiratory Diseases Research, KEMRI, Nairobi, Kenya	The CRDR conducts research on respiratory diseases of public health importance in order to improve the health of Kenyans.
	Kibong'oto Infectious Diseases Hospital, Tanzania	A centre of excellence in infectious disease management, the KIDH is dedicated to advancing healthcare through cutting-edge research, impactful training programs, and tailored consultancy services. Their team collaborates with local and international partners to address pressing health challenges, focusing on evidence-based solutions that drive innovation and improve lives. With a commitment to fostering capacity-building, they provide opportunities for professional development, knowledge sharing, and multidisciplinary collaboration.
	College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria	College of Medicine, University of Lagos (also known as Medilag) is the medical school affiliated with the University of Lagos in Nigeria. It is located in Idi-Araba, Lagos beside its sister institution, the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
	The Athena Institute Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands	The Athena Institute connects science and society for a better tomorrow. Through research and education, they study and design designs science-society interfaces, analysing and integrating diverse perspectives and enabling joint action. Athena is embedded in the faculty of science at Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam.
	Warwick Medical School Warwick University, UK	Warwick Medical School seeks to solve the world’s most pressing health challenges through the delivery of world-leading research capabilities and first-class education and teaching, within state-of-the-art facilities and labs.