Dick Menzies, MD

Research Focus

Research interests center on tuberculosis ranging from examining utility of cytokines for diagnosis of active TB to cost effectiveness of different strategies for global TB control. Some specific research projects that are ongoing include assessment of a cytokine based test for diagnosis of TB, randomized multi-center Canadian trial comparing 4 months rifampin vs. 9 months INH for treatment of latent TB infection (otherwise known as preventive therapy for TB) and the costs-effectiveness of different strategies for TB control among migrants to Canada and the US. These strategies include current radiographic screening at entry with passive diagnosis, tuberculin screening at entry, and investment by Canada and the US in enhancing TB control through expansion of the WHO DOTS strategy in source countries for migrants. The latter will be expanded to examine the same strategies in migrants from 10 countries in different regions of the world, but also to look at strategies of new diagnostics, new TB treatments.

Keywords

Tuberculosis, TB diagnosis, TB epidemiology, TB transmission, nosocomial transmission, Tuberculin testing, international health, TB molecular epidemiology, cost-effectiveness, DOTS strategy