Shifting TB Landscapes: Dr Peter MacPherson on HIV–TB Care & Diagnostic Innovation Artwork

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The TBPod is a podcast for clinicians and policymakers caring for patients with tuberculosis. The podcasts present discussions with expert clinicians, researchers, policymakers and advocates about their work in the field of tuberculosis. Tuberculosis remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and is an important contributor to morbidity among migrants arriving in Australia and New Zealand. There are around 1300 reported cases of TB in Australia each year, and a further 300 in New Zealand. Included in these figures are cases of multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB which pose significant barriers to treatment and management of the disease. The Australian government has committed to the global elimination of TB by 2030, but to do so requires the development of innovative new strategies, based on high-quality research, that has national and international reach. These podcasts aim to engage and update those who are interested in the field of tuberculosis through discussions with leaders in the field of tuberculosis.

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The TBPod

Shifting TB Landscapes: Dr Peter MacPherson on HIV–TB Care & Diagnostic Innovation

March 24, 2026 • Actnet

0:00 | 29:46

Dr Peter MacPherson, Professor of Global Public Health at the University of Glasgow, joins Dr Jack Callum to discuss his research on HIV–TB care and shifting TB epidemiology. He discusses findings from the SaDAPT trial, showing that same‑day ART initiation for people with HIV and TB symptoms is non‑inferior to waiting for TB results and carries similarly low IRIS risk, supporting flexible, program‑level decision‑making. He also highlights his urban–rural TB prevalence meta‑analysis, revealing substantial regional variation and a global trend toward urbanization of TB, with implications for targeted screening and policy. Dr MacPherson reflects on the need for better, low‑cost TB surveillance tools and describes ongoing work on MTB immunoreactivity–based transmission mapping and advances in CAD‑supported TB diagnosis.