The Treatment Action Group, an AIDS policy think tank, released its latest report today showing that the rising trend in funding for tuberculosis research tapered off in 2008. In addition, the bulk of funding has shifted from government agencies to philanthropic heavyweights like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which donated $165 million last year.

Tuberculosis infects one-third of people world wide, killing an estimated 1.6 million each year, and the increase in multi-drug resistant strains of TB has raised fears that it could expand its toll (WHO). From 2005 to 2007, TB funding increased by about 15% annually to $473 million. Last year, however, funding increased just 8%, to $510 million.

One key point of the recent report is that research into diagnostics, including support for a TB dipstick that could identify the pathogen in blood or urine, has been lagging. About 35% of TB research funds went toward drug development, whereas diagnostics received less than 10%. Many scientists believe simpler diagnostics could save lives because the current procedure requires microscopic examination of sputum samples, a technique not available in impoverished parts of Africa where TB is most prevalent. (MSNBC)