Tuberculosis and Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Online Course – 2023

Organized by the Asian–African Society of Mycobacteriology (AASM), in collaboration with the Mycobacteriology Research Center (MRC), National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Global Diagnostics Solutions Ltd; and the School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Lincoln, United Kingdom.

In September and October 2023, the AASM conducted a four-week international online course on Tuberculosis and Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM). The course aimed to strengthen the scientific knowledge and practical skills of healthcare professionals, researchers, medical students, and laboratory specialists working in mycobacteriology and related fields.

Delivered entirely online in English, the programme brought together international experts to provide comprehensive training on the epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis, laboratory investigation, and management of tuberculosis (TB) and NTM infections. It also addressed current developments in drug-resistant TB, new and repurposed anti-TB drugs, molecular diagnostics, drug susceptibility testing, laboratory biosafety, and quality assurance.

Scientific Programme

The course covered a broad range of topics, including:

  • Tuberculosis epidemiology and public health: Introduction to TB, the global burden of disease, the epidemiological situation in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, and updates on the management of drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB.
  • TB diagnostics and laboratory practice: Diagnostic methodologies, laboratory infrastructure, biosafety requirements, good laboratory practices, quality control, and drug susceptibility testing.
  • Drug-resistant tuberculosis: Emerging drug resistance, new and repurposed medicines, WHO treatment recommendations, and novel approaches to TB drug development.
  • Nontuberculous mycobacteria: Epidemiology, geographical distribution, clinical significance, identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and resistance mechanisms.
  • Environmental mycobacteriology: Methods for isolating NTM from environmental samples, including air, water, and soil, and the application of geographical information systems (GIS) to investigate NTM distribution.
  • Leprosy and genomic technologies: Mycobacterium leprae and leprosy, alongside introductory and practical sessions on TB sequencing.

The programme combined expert lectures with dedicated workshops and practical learning sessions, including workshops on TB diagnostics, the global burden of TB, NTM, and TB sequencing.

International Faculty and Collaboration

The course featured contributions from internationally recognized specialists in mycobacteriology, tuberculosis, laboratory diagnostics, epidemiology, and drug resistance. The faculty and facilitators included , Ali Akbar Velayati, Matthew Bates,parissa Farnia ,  Martin van den Boom, Mahshid Nasehi, Rumina Hasan, Sven Hoffner, Joseph Falkinham, Rachel Thomson, Satoshi Mitarai, Bouke de Jong, Rob Warren and his team, and other invited experts.

Educational Objectives and Impact

The course aimed to improve participants’ understanding of contemporary TB and NTM challenges, strengthen laboratory and diagnostic competencies, promote evidence-based clinical and public health practice, and encourage international collaboration in mycobacterial research. By integrating epidemiological perspectives with laboratory-focused training and emerging molecular technologies, the programme supported professional development in a rapidly evolving field.

This 2023 initiative reflected the AASM’s commitment to international education, scientific exchange, and capacity building in mycobacteriology and related biomedical discipline