"Childhood tuberculosis continues to be one of the leading causes of death in children under the age of five worldwide. As part of the RaPaed-TB study, we worked with colleagues from five countries (South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Malawi, India) to evaluate a new test for childhood tuberculosis based on capillary blood. With a small prick in the fingertip (similar to a blood glucose test), blood is obtained and placed in a test cartridge to examine the immune response," explains Dr. Olbrich from the Institute of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine at the LMU Hospital Munich, who also works at the Fraunhofer ITMP site IIP (Immunology, Infection and Pandemic Research) in Penzberg/Munich.

Her goal: "With my work, I would like to make a contribution to combating the catastrophic consequences of neglected childhood diseases such as tuberculosis, and to bring them more into the focus of our research and political decisions."