ProfessorJames Seddon

Professor of Global Child Health

Department of Infectious Disease - Faculty of Medicine

RESEARCH

RESEARCH

My main research area is the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis infection and disease in children, particularly drug-resistant forms. I am particularly interested in new drugs and new regimens for both prevention and treatment of tuberculosis in children, as well as the use of biomarkers to guide treatment decisions.

CURRENT PROJECTS

- Clinical trial of preventive therapy for child contacts of MDR-TB (TB-CHAMP). With Anneke Hesseling, Simon Schaaf (Stellenbosch University), Angela Crook, Anna Turkova and Di Gibb (MRC CTU at UCL)
- Clinical trial of tuberculosis meningitis treatment in children (SURE). With Di Gibb, Anna Turkova, and Angela Crook (MRC CTU at UCL) and Guy Thwaites (Oxford University)
- Clinical Trial of treatment for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in children (SMART KIDS). With Tony Garcia-Prats, Anneke Hesseling and Simon Schaaf (Stellenbosch University)
- Correlates of risk in children exposed to multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. With Myrsini Kaforou (Imperial College London), Anneke Hesseling (Stellenbosch University), and David Moore (LSTHM).
- Exploring the role of cytomegalovirus in TB pathogenesis in young children. With Gert van Zyl, Anneke Hesseling (Stellenbosch University), Helen Fletcher (LSHTM) and Andrew Prendergast (QMUL)
- Understanding the biology, morbidity and social context of adolescent tuberculosis (Teen TB). With Liz Whittaker, Mike Levin (Imperial College London), Anneke Hesseling, Marieke van der Zalm, Megan Palmer, Alex Doruyter, Graeme Hoddinott, Gert van Zyl, Ruan Swanepoel (Stellenbosch University)
- Hotspots, hospitals and households: enhanced drug-resistant tuberculosis case finding in Namibia (H3TB). With Mareli Claassens (University of Namibia) and Graeme Hoddinott (Stellenbosch University).
- Mathematical modelling the burden of tuberculosis in children with evaluation of interventions to reduce this burden. With Pete Dodd (University of Sheffield) and Finn McQuaid (LSHTM).
- Evaluation of antibiotic use on the microbiome and antimicrobial resistance in children. With Andrew Whitelaw and Anneke Hesseling (Stellenbosch University)
- Analysis of routine national TB register data in South Africa. With Muhammad Osman and Karen Du Preez (Stellenbosch University) and Jay Achar (Karolinska Institute)
- Estimating the disease burden and outcomes for children with tuberculous meningitis. With Karen Du Preez (Stellenbosch University)
- Understanding ischemia in children with tuberculous meningitis (iThemba) - NIH-funded R01.
- Validation of treatment decision algorithms for childhood tuberculosis at low levels of healthcare in high burden countries - effectiveness, implementation, and integration into policy and practices (Decide TB) - EDCTP-funded project
- Understanding the role of chest radiology in the diagnosis and management of children with TB. With Megan Palmer (Stellenbosch University).
- Cost effectiveness of MDR-TB preventive therapy. With Tommy Wilkinson (University of Cape Town).
- Changes in transcriptomic signatures while on TB treatment. With Myrsini Kaforou (Imperial College) and Tom Scriba (University of Cape Town).

GRANTS

  • STANDARD - CALL
    Understanding the immunology, microbiology and morbidity of adolescent tuberculosis
    Wellcome Trust1 Jan 2026 - 31 Dec 2031
    Wellcome Trust: Understanding the immunology, microbiology and morbidity of adolescent tuberculosis (2026-2031)
  • STANDARD - CALL
    Identifying correlates of risk for future tuberculosis disease progression in children (INTREPID)
    National Institutes of Health5 May 2023 - 30 Apr 2028
    NIH: Identifying correlates of risk for future tuberculosis disease progression in children (INTREPID) (2023-2028)
  • STANDARD - CALL
    Validation of treatment decision algorithms...
    European and Developing Countries Clinical Trial P1 Apr 2023 - 31 Mar 2027
    European and Developing Countries Clinical Trial P: Validation of treatment decision algorithms... (2023-2027)
  • GRANT
    Understanding ischemia in children with tuberculous meningitis (iThemba)
    National Institutes of Health1 Aug 2022 - 31 May 2027
    We will recruit 80 children with TB meningitis and carry out advanced neuroimaging as well as collecting blood and cerebrospinal fluid for proteomic and transcriptomic analysis. We aim to better understand the biology of ischaemic infarction in children with TBM
  • GRANT
    M Claassens, Whole Genome Sequencing for Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Namibia
    Medical Research Council (MRC)1 Apr 2020 - 30 Sep 2027
    MRC: M Claassens, Whole Genome Sequencing for Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Namibia (2020-2027)
  • GRANT
    BCG - AMS Starter Grant (James Seddon)
    The Academy of Medical Sciences1 Aug 2014 - 31 Mar 2019
    The Academy of Medical Sciences: BCG - AMS Starter Grant (James Seddon) (2014-2019)
  • FELLOWSHIP
    Correlates of risk in children exposed to multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (2018-2022)
    Medical Research Council
    Clinician Scientist Fellowship