Renée’s PhD research improving TB screening in migrant settings
United States
Support Innovative TB Diagnostics to Save Lives
Hello everyone,
I am reaching out to ask for your support in funding my PhD research, which aims to bridge the diagnostic gap in tuberculosis (TB), particularly among vulnerable and underserved populations.
Why is this important? Globally, one-third of TB cases remain undetected, largely because current testing methods are invasive, difficult, and pose risks to healthcare workers. Traditional sputum tests require patients to produce samples that can aerosolize bacteria, increasing the risk of infection for those handling them.
My research focuses on developing a safer, less invasive, and culturally acceptable screening method using tongue swabs. This innovative approach is especially promising for migrant communities in Europe, where early detection is critical for effective treatment and containment. I hope to contribute to the World Health Organization’s efforts to endorse and implement this method worldwide, improving TB diagnosis and control on a global scale.
Where I work: My study projects are based at migrant welcome centers like the Italian Red Cross and clinics such as Villa Marelli, as well as mobile health labs operated with NGO Emergency in Northern Italy’s Lombardy region.
For more about my work, check out this blog post from the University of Washington: A Swab to Stop TB
My name is Renée Codsi, and I am a fourth-year PhD candidate in Environmental Health and Occupational Safety. My academic background includes a B.S. in Biology from UC Santa Cruz, an M.A. in Educational Technology from Michigan State University, and an MPH in One Health from the University of Washington.
As a migrant who has fled war and conflict, I am personally motivated to improve health outcomes for underserved communities worldwide. Over the past 20+ years, I have dedicated myself to studying the environmental determinants of infectious diseases, inspiring my passion to support migrants and marginalized groups in accessing better healthcare.
This research was previously supported by grants, but due to recent funding cuts, I now rely on individual donations to continue this vital work. Your contribution can help save lives by enabling the development of accessible, safe, and effective TB screening methods.
Infectious diseases like TB do not respect borders. Better diagnostics mean healthier communities everywhere. As the International Organization on Migration highlights, migrants are not the source of disease; rather, their living conditions and the challenges they face during their migration journey put them at greater risk of exposure to infectious disease than if they were never forced to migrate.
Ethical approval: This study has been approved by the Comitato Etico Territoriale Lombardia 3 (approval number 3582_S_N) and the University of Washington Human Subjects Division (UW STUDY00018900).
If you’d like to learn more or discuss this project further, please reach out to me at [email protected].
Thank you for your support in advancing global health and ending the TB diagnostic gap.
Christine Codsi
7 weeks ago
$100
Hala Audi
-
$100,000.00
Funding Goal -
$0.00
Funds Raised -
0
Days to go -
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Product Description
United States
Support Innovative TB Diagnostics to Save Lives
Hello everyone,
I am reaching out to ask for your support in funding my PhD research, which aims to bridge the diagnostic gap in tuberculosis (TB), particularly among vulnerable and underserved populations.
Why is this important? Globally, one-third of TB cases remain undetected, largely because current testing methods are invasive, difficult, and pose risks to healthcare workers. Traditional sputum tests require patients to produce samples that can aerosolize bacteria, increasing the risk of infection for those handling them.
My research focuses on developing a safer, less invasive, and culturally acceptable screening method using tongue swabs. This innovative approach is especially promising for migrant communities in Europe, where early detection is critical for effective treatment and containment. I hope to contribute to the World Health Organization’s efforts to endorse and implement this method worldwide, improving TB diagnosis and control on a global scale.
Where I work: My study projects are based at migrant welcome centers like the Italian Red Cross and clinics such as Villa Marelli, as well as mobile health labs operated with NGO Emergency in Northern Italy’s Lombardy region.
For more about my work, check out this blog post from the University of Washington: A Swab to Stop TB
My name is Renée Codsi, and I am a fourth-year PhD candidate in Environmental Health and Occupational Safety. My academic background includes a B.S. in Biology from UC Santa Cruz, an M.A. in Educational Technology from Michigan State University, and an MPH in One Health from the University of Washington.
As a migrant who has fled war and conflict, I am personally motivated to improve health outcomes for underserved communities worldwide. Over the past 20+ years, I have dedicated myself to studying the environmental determinants of infectious diseases, inspiring my passion to support migrants and marginalized groups in accessing better healthcare.
This research was previously supported by grants, but due to recent funding cuts, I now rely on individual donations to continue this vital work. Your contribution can help save lives by enabling the development of accessible, safe, and effective TB screening methods.
Infectious diseases like TB do not respect borders. Better diagnostics mean healthier communities everywhere. As the International Organization on Migration highlights, migrants are not the source of disease; rather, their living conditions and the challenges they face during their migration journey put them at greater risk of exposure to infectious disease than if they were never forced to migrate.
Ethical approval: This study has been approved by the Comitato Etico Territoriale Lombardia 3 (approval number 3582_S_N) and the University of Washington Human Subjects Division (UW STUDY00018900).
If you’d like to learn more or discuss this project further, please reach out to me at [email protected].
Thank you for your support in advancing global health and ending the TB diagnostic gap.
Christine Codsi
7 weeks ago
$100
Hala Audi
| ID | Name | Amount | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1244 | Listing Agent | [email protected] | |
| 1215 | Listing Agent | [email protected] |
