Our projects
2024
DTEC Wastewater Surveillance
From 2024, we will join hands with the Clinton Health Access Initiative to conduct a study to evaluate the detection of pulmonary tuberculosis (DTEC), enrolling about 3,000 participants.
2023
Re-imagining TB Care project
In 2023, with support from Stop TB Partnership, FIT conducted interviews with 88 individuals on their barriers and gaps in accessing or providing TB services. We then formed a local RTC Leadership Group comprising of diverse stakeholders, who were tasked with deciding the scope and direction of the project. At the end of 2023, this group achieved the decision to select social protection and financial support as the prioritized solution to be implemented in the next phase of the project
2022
QURE.AI Lung cancer screening
Since June 2022, FIT has collaborated with Qure.ai to implement the operational research under the AstraZeneca grant that focuses on lung cancer screening across Ha Noi, Hai Phong, and HCMC.
2022
TB Vaccine
FIT has partnered with Gates MRI to conduct a multi-country, multi-site, epidemiologic study that aids in refining the sample size and duration required for the planned Phase 3 vaccine efficacy trial. In Viet Nam, We completed recruitment in 2022 with 160 participants in Hanoi and 157 in HCMC.
2022
Remote TB screening campaign for ethnic communities
In September 2022, FIT received funding from German Embassy to conduct a remote TB screening campaign for ethnic communities in Ha Giang. Screening activities occurred in December across 5 remote communes.
2022
INTEGRATE
We are conducting community screening for TB, TB infection and several other diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, asthma/COPD and lung cancer. We are tracking referrals into the health system for non-TB diseases for the first time and measuring retention in care for chronic conditions. Screening campaigns are being be conducted across eight provinces: Ha Giang, Lai Chau, Thanh Hoa, Quang Ngai, Quang Nam, Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong and Long An.
2022
Evaluate the Accuracy of AI Software (qXR) to Predict Lung Cancer
We are using artificial intelligence (AI) software to identify potentially malignant nodules on chest X-rays taken during community-based TB screening and making referrals for more detailed CT scans based on these readings. This project aims to improve the early detection and treatment of lung cancer. A pilot was conducted in Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong, and activities are now being scaled up in Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong and Long An.
2022
Infection Prevention & Control
We are collaborating with ten districts, the APHL (Association of Public Health Labs), and the US CDC to engage district-level TBUs and one outpatient department at PNTH to assess existing infection prevention and control measures. Following a baseline assessment, IPC measures will be improved and strengthened in all 11 facilities.
2021
COVID-19: AI-Indicated Testing During Routine TB Screening
We developed a report assessing the potential to rapidly transition the National TB Program’s fleet of GeneXpert systems for SARS-CoV-2 testing. We also evaluated an artificial intelligence (AI) software’s ability to identify abnormalities in chest X-ray images taken at high-volume public and private health facilities in Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong. The hope is that this technology may be used as a surveillance tool to improve COVID-19 detection and control.
2021
EndTB-Q
FIT, in collaboration with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and the NTP, is conducting the endTB-Q clinical trial to evaluate a novel treatment regimen for TB patients with fluoroquinolone resistance in Vietnam. We are engaging the district- and commune-level public health and TB officers as well as community health workers to refer persons with rifampicin resistance to the provincial lung hospitals, support study participants in the adherence and completion of TB treatment, and trace participant contacts for the detection of additional eligible participants.
2021
COVID-Inspired Initiatives to Maintain Patient Access to Care for Tuberculosis
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Viet Nam closed its international borders to prevent the import of infections. As a result, the movement of communities living in remote border regions was closely monitored and curtailed. Through the CO-IMPACT project, we have implemented community-based chest X-ray screening campaigns for TB across six provinces (Ha Giang, Lai Chau, Hoa Binh, Quang Nam, Gia Lai and Kien Giang) in order to find people with TB closer to their homes in increased numbers and earlier in their disease course.
2021
PPM Model 5
In 2021, FIT partnered with the NTP to support the scale-up of “PPM Model 5” activities across 10 centrally administered cities/provinces. The project is focused on two strategies. Strategy 1 consists of strengthening the screening and referral process with an emphasis on free expanded access to the Double-X diagnostic algorithm. Strategy 2 is focused on collecting private sector diagnosis and treatment data without impacting existing provider activities. The long-term objective of Strategy 2 is to improve the quality of these services in the private sector moving forward. In this project, nutritional and vitamin support packages have also been provided to eligible people with TB.
2020
ZTV HOPE 5% Initiative
FIT is a subrecipient of the Zero TB Viet Nam Health economic & Operational Performance Evaluation (ZTV HOPE) initiative. This initiative focuses on systematic screening and early detection of all forms of TB including latent TB infection (LTBI) and prompt linkage to care. This allows us to continue tracing household and community contacts for active TB and testing for latent infection. This also allows our community volunteers to continue providing psychosocial support and treatment follow-up through completion. We will collect project and health system costs from national and provincial accounting systems and conduct 10 semi-structured interviews with project accounting staff to allocate cost to our activities and outputs.
2020
Erase TB
We received USAID’s Local Organizations Network (LON) award to carry out four work packages under the Erase TB project. The project aimed to increase access to TB detection and care, strengthen the capacity of local organizations, engage with private providers and accelerate declines in TB incidence in ten districts of Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City.
2019
Ending Tuberculosis in Viet Nam through Regional Partnerships
A trilateral partnership with the CDC Foundation, Ministry of Health Taiwan and FIT allowed us to provide social support for Multi-drug resistant TB patients and latent TB infection testing and treatment in Ho Chi Minh City.
2019
Ending Tuberculosis in Vietnam
FIT is a subrecipient of USAID’s Local Organizations Network (LON) award to support two work packages and the monitoring & evaluation for the Erase TB project. This project aims to increase access to TB detection and care, strengthen the capacity of local organizations, engage with private providers and accelerate declines in TB incidence in ten districts of Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City
2019
PCPS Expansion
We received funding to scale up public-public and public-private engagement activities in Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Noi and Hai Phong.
2019
Private Pharmacy Engagement Pilot
We secured a small WPR/TDR grant to research the yield of TB in the private sector and evaluate the acceptability of private sector TB programs via an acceptability survey among pharmacists and their clients.
2018
SWEEP-TB
To facilitate access to chest X-ray and health services, we supported IRD VN in organizing 80 days of mobile chest X-ray screening in three districts of Ho Chi Minh City and island screening campaigns in Hoi An and Hai Phong.
2017
Zero TB Cities Viet Nam (ZTV)
In collaboration with the National TB Program, we scaled up Search-Treat-Prevent activities in 8 districts Ho Chi Minh City, 4 districts of Hai Phong and the city of Hoi An.
2017
Proper Care in the Private Sector (PCPS)
FIT began engaging with private providers through PCPS project in Go Vap and District 10. These activities were focused on increasing referrals to public sector and documenting private sector TB treatment practices in Viet Nam.
2017
IMPACT-TB
Funding from the European Commission allowed us to scale-up active case finding to 6 districts in Ho Chi Minh City and test two types of community healthcare worker models. We began researching health systems and patient costs.
2017
PROPER CARE Expansion
We expanded PROPER CARE from one to three districts and supported the Viet Nam National TB Programme to optimize PROPER CARE through community networks.
2014
PROPER CARE
In 2014, funding from the Global Health and Education Trust enabled us to expand TB activities from 3 to 8 wards in Go Vap, Ho Chi Minh City. In 2015, additional private sector funding expanded our community-based activities to cover all of Go Vap district. The Global Public Health Group at Janssen then generously funded PROPER CARE continuation activities.
2012
Early engagement in Viet Nam
Through the support of friends and family, we initiated a pilot project to increase case detection and reduce loss to follow-up in 3 districts of Go Vap, Ho Chi Minh City.
2012
TB advocacy in Germany
We organized events in Germany to increase overall awareness about TB. These events included presentations, current efforts for TB prevention and control, and avenues for collaboration in Viet Nam.
2024
DTEC Wastewater Surveillance
From 2024, we will partner with the Clinton Health Access Initiative to conduct a study to evaluate the detection of pulmonary tuberculosis (DTEC), enrolling about 3,000 participants.
2023
Re-Imagining TB Care project
In 2023, with support from Stop TB Partnership, FIT conducted interviews with 88 individuals on their barriers and gaps in accessing or providing TB services. We then formed a local RTC Leadership Group comprising of diverse stakeholders, who were tasked with deciding the scope and direction of the project. At the end of 2023, this group achieved the decision to select social protection and financial support as the prioritized solution to be implemented in the next phase of the project
2022
QURE.AI Lung cancer screening
Since June 2022, FIT has collaborated with Qure.ai to implement the operational research under the AstraZeneca grant that focuses on lung cancer screening across Ha Noi, Hai Phong, and HCMC.
2022
TB Vaccine
FIT has partnered with Gates MRI to conduct a multi-country, multi-site, epidemiologic study that aids in refining the sample size and duration required for the planned Phase 3 vaccine efficacy trial. In Viet Nam, We completed recruitment in 2022 with 160 participants in Hanoi and 157 in HCMC.
2022
Remote TB screening campaign for ethnic communities
In September 2022, FIT received funding from German Embassy to conduct a remote TB screening campaign for ethnic communities in Ha Giang. Screening activities occurred in December across 5 remote communes.
2022
INTEGRATE
We are conducting community screening for TB, TB infection and several other diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, asthma/COPD and lung cancer. We are tracking referrals into the health system for non-TB diseases for the first time and measuring retention in care for chronic conditions. Screening campaigns are being be conducted across eight provinces: Ha Giang, Lai Chau, Thanh Hoa, Quang Ngai, Quang Nam, Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong and Long An.
2022
Evaluate the Accuracy of AI Software (qXR) to Predict Lung Cancer
We are using artificial intelligence (AI) software to identify potentially malignant nodules on chest X-rays taken during community-based TB screening and making referrals for more detailed CT scans based on these readings. This project aims to improve the early detection and treatment of lung cancer. A pilot was conducted in Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong, and activities are now being scaled up in Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong and Long An.
2022
Infection Prevention & Control
We are collaborating with ten districts, the APHL (Association of Public Health Labs), and the US CDC to engage district-level TBUs and one outpatient department at PNTH to assess existing infection prevention and control measures. Following a baseline assessment, IPC measures will be improved and strengthened in all 11 facilities.
2021
COVID-19: AI-Indicated Testing During Routine TB Screening
We developed a report assessing the potential to rapidly transition the National TB Program’s fleet of GeneXpert systems for SARS-CoV-2 testing. We also evaluated an artificial intelligence (AI) software’s ability to identify abnormalities in chest X-ray images taken at high-volume public and private health facilities in Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong. The hope is that this technology may be used as a surveillance tool to improve COVID-19 detection and control.
2021
EndTB-Q
FIT, in collaboration with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and the NTP, is conducting the endTB-Q clinical trial to evaluate a novel treatment regimen for TB patients with fluoroquinolone resistance in Vietnam. We are engaging the district- and commune-level public health and TB officers as well as community health workers to refer persons with rifampicin resistance to the provincial lung hospitals, support study participants in the adherence and completion of TB treatment, and trace participant contacts for the detection of additional eligible participants.
2021
COVID-Inspired Initiatives to Maintain Patient Access to Care for Tuberculosis
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Viet Nam closed its international borders to prevent the import of infections. As a result, the movement of communities living in remote border regions was closely monitored and curtailed. Through the CO-IMPACT project, we have implemented community-based chest X-ray screening campaigns for TB across six provinces (Ha Giang, Lai Chau, Hoa Binh, Quang Nam, Gia Lai and Kien Giang) in order to find people with TB closer to their homes in increased numbers and earlier in their disease course.
2021
PPM Model 5
In 2021, FIT partnered with the NTP to support the scale-up of “PPM Model 5” activities across 10 centrally administered cities/provinces. The project is focused on two strategies. Strategy 1 consists of strengthening the screening and referral process with an emphasis on free expanded access to the Double-X diagnostic algorithm. Strategy 2 is focused on collecting private sector diagnosis and treatment data without impacting existing provider activities. The long-term objective of Strategy 2 is to improve the quality of these services in the private sector moving forward. In this project, nutritional and vitamin support packages have also been provided to eligible people with TB.
2020
ZTV HOPE 5% Initiative
FIT is a subrecipient of the Zero TB Viet Nam Health economic & Operational Performance Evaluation (ZTV HOPE) initiative. This initiative focuses on systematic screening and early detection of all forms of TB including latent TB infection (LTBI) and prompt linkage to care. This allows us to continue tracing household and community contacts for active TB and testing for latent infection. This also allows our community volunteers to continue providing psychosocial support and treatment follow-up through completion. We will collect project and health system costs from national and provincial accounting systems and conduct 10 semi-structured interviews with project accounting staff to allocate cost to our activities and outputs.
2020
Erase TB
We received USAID’s Local Organizations Network (LON) award to carry out four work packages under the Erase TB project. The project aimed to increase access to TB detection and care, strengthen the capacity of local organizations, engage with private providers and accelerate declines in TB incidence in ten districts of Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City.
2019
Ending Tuberculosis in Viet Nam through Regional Partnerships
A trilateral partnership with the CDC Foundation, Ministry of Health Taiwan and FIT allowed us to provide social support for Multi-drug resistant TB patients and latent TB infection testing and treatment in Ho Chi Minh City.
2019
PROPERCARE in the Private Sector Expansion
We received funding to scale up public-public and public-private engagement activities in Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Noi and Hai Phong.
2019
Private Pharmacy Engagement Pilot
We secured a small WPR/TDR grant to research the prevalence of TB in the private sector and evaluate the acceptability of private sector TB programs via an acceptability survey among pharmacists and their clients.
2018
SWEEP-TB
To facilitate access to chest X-ray and health services, we supported IRD VN in organizing 80 days of mobile chest X-ray screening in three districts of Ho Chi Minh City and island screening campaigns in Hoi An and Hai Phong.
2017
Zero TB Cities Viet Nam (ZTV)
In collaboration with the National TB Program, we scaled up Search-Treat-Prevent activities in 8 districts Ho Chi Minh City, 4 districts of Hai Phong and the city of Hoi An.
2017
PROPERCARE in the Private Sector (PCPS)
FIT began engaging with private providers through the PCPS project in Go Vap and District 10. These activities were focused on increasing referrals to the public sector and documenting private sector TB treatment practices in Viet Nam.
2017
IMPACT-TB
Funding from the European Commission allowed us to scale-up active case finding to 6 districts in Ho Chi Minh City and test two types of community healthcare worker models. We began researching health systems and patient costs.
2017
PROPER CARE Expansion
We expanded PROPER CARE from one to three districts and supported the Viet Nam National TB Programme to optimize PROPER CARE through community networks.
2014
PROPER CARE
In 2014, funding from the Global Health and Education Trust enabled us to expand TB activities from 3 to 8 wards in Go Vap, Ho Chi Minh City. In 2015, additional private sector funding expanded our community-based activities to cover all of Go Vap district. The Global Public Health Group at Janssen then generously funded PROPER CARE continuation activities.
2012
Early engagement in Viet Nam
Through the support of friends and family, we initiated a pilot project to increase case detection and reduce loss to follow-up in 3 wards of Go Vap, Ho Chi Minh City.
2012
TB advocacy in Germany
We organized events in Germany to increase overall awareness about TB. These events included presentations, current efforts for TB prevention and control, and avenues for collaboration in Viet Nam.