The Division of Tuberculosis Elimination (DTBE) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) established the Tuberculosis Epidemiologic Studies Consortium (TBESC) in order to strengthen, focus, and coordinate tuberculosis (TB) research. The TBESC is designed to build the scientific research capacities of state and metropolitan TB control programs, participating laboratories, academic institutions, hospitals, and both non- and for-profit organizations. It operates within an environment that fosters creative and open intellectual input. The research agenda is developed through a process of mutually negotiated scientific and programmatic peer review.

UCSF is one of twenty-one sites that participate in the TB Epidemiologic Studies Consortium (TBESC), a network of public health, academic, and non-profit organizations funded through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to perform TB epidemiologic and operations research.