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. It is guided by a national, comprehensive research agenda responsive to the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) report, Ending Neglect: The Elimination of Tuberculosis in the United States (2000), CDC’s Response to the IOM Report, and DTBE’s priorities.

UCSF collaborates to provide on an as needed basis medical and scientific oversight for project-related activities, which will include providing expert consultation on the development of tools and templates which will be used to collect, analyze and interpret data from the LHDs.