Affiliation: Silesian University of Technology, Poland. Host institution: Croatian Institute of Public Health, National Reference Laboratory for Tuberculosis, Division of Microbiology, Coratia. Mission: Validation of Novel Interferon-Gamma Release Assays for Detection of Different Phases of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection The purpose of this STSM was to validate novel interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) developed through in silico peptide selection for improved immunodiagnostic detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection. During the visit, we experimentally assessed these diagnostic tests using blood samples from well-defined clinical groups, including active TB patients, individuals with TB infection, and uninfected controls.

Affiliation: Odesa I.I. Mechnikov National University, Ukraine. Host institution: Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Moldova. Mission: Exploring Black Sea Bacillota Metabolites: A Functional Evaluation of Antimycobacterial Activity Against Tuberculous and Nontuberculous Mycobacteria This STSM focuses on evaluating the antimycobacterial potential of secondary metabolites produced by Bacillota strains isolated from the bottom sediments of the Black Sea. Through cultivation, extraction, and bioactivity screening against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), the mission seeks to identify promising compounds for future drug development. Genome-based bioinformatic analysis will complement laboratory findings, strengthening methodological capacity at Odesa National University and promoting knowledge exchange within the ADVANCE-TB network. This initiative supports innovative approaches to tuberculosis research and fosters collaboration during challenging circumstances in Ukraine.

Affiliation: Affiliated assistant Professor at European University (EU), Tbilisi. / Research Consultant at National Center for Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (NCTLD), Tbilisi. Host institution: Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP) Mission: Working on the common research project between EU, NCTLD and IGTP.

Affiliation: Experimental Tuberculosis Unit. Microbiology Department. Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute and Hospital (IGTP-HUGTIP), Badalona, Spain Host institution: Leiden University Medical Center - LUMC, Leiden, Netherlands.

Affiliation: Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de recerca Germans Trias i Pujol, Spain. Host institution: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine - Liverpool, UK

Affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. Host institution: i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Portugal. Mission:

Affiliation: İstinye University, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Istanbul, Türkiye Host institution: MyBiotech GmbH, Germany Mission: to develop a nanoparticle-based delivery system aimed at improving antimicrobial treatment for tuberculosis (TB).

Affiliation: Egypt Center for Research and Regenerative Medicine, Cairo, Egypt. Host institution: Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Laboratorio de Genómica Microbiana, Servicio de Microbiología Clínica y Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.

Affiliation: Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, Faculty of Science of Tetouan, Department of Biology, Laboratory of Biology and Health, Food Science and Health Research Team (ERSAS), Tetouan, Morocco. Host institution: Department of Medical Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Poland.

Affiliation: Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de recerca Germans Trias i Pujol, Spain. Host institution: Zankli Research Centre, Nigeria

Affiliation: Sabanci University / Istanbul - Turkey Host İnstitution: Porto University / Porto - Portugal

Affiliations: V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Kharkiv, Ukraine. Host institution: Umeå University

Affiliation: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain. Host institution: Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA. Precision Medical Imaging Laboratory, at the Sheikh Zayed Institute, Children’s National Hospital. Supervisor: Marius George Linguraru, D.Phil., M.A., M.Sc. Mission: include a paediatric TB cohort at Children's National Hospital, Washington DC, USA, to validate deep learning approaches we had already developed for the detection of TB-compatible paediatric chest X-rays.