The Tuberculosis Research Advisory Council (TRAC) convened its core membership at the Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI) on February 25, 2026, to review preparations for its 20th Annual Research Conference, World TB Day commemoration, and the 25th Anniversary of the Council.
The session, presided over by Prof. Afework Kassu, Chairperson of TRAC and Director General of AHRI, brought together the country’s leading experts from the Ministry of Health (MOH), AHRI, EPHI, and public universities including AAU and the University of Gondar.
Prof. Afework formally welcomed the current TB Goodwill Ambassador, Artist Alemayehu Tadesse during the meeting. In a comprehensive briefing, Prof. Afework outlined the Council’s 25-year evolution into Ethiopia’s premier technical advisory body and introduced the Ambassador to the multidisciplinary assembly of TRAC members.
Artist Alemayehu emphasized that scientific evidence achieves its greatest social impact when translated through creative mediums. He pledged his commitment to working alongside the MOH and TRAC to tackle public misconceptions and deliver a message of hope. Council members noted the legacy of previous TB Goodwill Ambassadors, such as the late Artist Fikadu Teklemariam and Athlete Derartu Tulu, who contributed to successful public outreach.
The Council reviewed the status of preparations for the upcoming TRAC Annual TB Research Conference, which saw 97 abstract submissions across diverse fields, including genomic studies and post-TB lung disease. The meeting also featured a candid discussion on financial sustainability. In light of declining global funding, members advocated for a strategic shift toward domestic self-reliance.
They discussed several innovative resource mobilization schemes, including the introduction of TRAC membership fees and the potential utilization of “Sin Tax” collections. These measures were proposed to sustain the Council’s support of the National TB Program.
Mr. Taye Letta, Head of the National TB, Leprosy and Other Lung Diseases Program at the MOH, provided an update, highlighting a 46% reduction in TB mortality since 2015 and a current treatment success rate of 94%. He also showcased the rapid deployment of AI-mounted screening tools, which reached 60,000 people in just three months.
He also notified the Council of potential research areas, including the downward trend in Drug-Resistant TB (DR-TB) notifications and the challenges in follow-up care for Post-TB Lung Disease (PTLD).
Prof. Afework concluded the session by recognizing the Council’s expanding influence through the Southern and East Africa Regional Network for TB Control (SEARN-TB), an initiative that originated within TRAC and was later modeled after the WARN/CARN initiative. Encompassing 22 member countries, the network was cited as a landmark achievement in cross-border TB intervention integration.
Prof. Afework emphasized that Ethiopia continues to lead the regional knowledge transition, directing the secretariat to formally communicate these successes to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health.
Following the conclusion of the meeting, TRAC members visited the state-of-the-art laboratories of AHRI, witnessing firsthand the advanced technological infrastructure and research initiatives.
