We are proud to share that Dr. Jyoti Mathad, a faculty member at our NYC-TRAC, has played a leading role in a new global initiative by the World Health Organization (WHO) to address inequities in tuberculosis (TB) research for pregnant and lactating women. Over the past two years, Dr. Mathad has co-led the Therapeutics Working Group of the WHO consensus team, helping to develop critical recommendations that place pregnant and lactating women at the forefront of TB therapeutics research.
On August 22nd, 2025, WHO released a landmark Call to Action and Consensus Statement urging researchers, funders, and policymakers to prioritize the inclusion of pregnant and lactating women in TB research. Despite the fact that nearly 200,000 pregnant or postpartum women develop TB each year, this population has historically been excluded from clinical trials, leaving major evidence gaps in treatment and prevention.
The WHO statement highlights the need to close data and surveillance gaps, accelerate preclinical studies, and ensure safe inclusion of pregnant and lactating women in TB drug and vaccine trials. It also calls for removing legal and regulatory barriers that hinder participation, while engaging communities to make research more respectful and equitable.
Please find the details and the published documents on the official WHO website.
Dr. Jyoti Mathad (third from the left) and the Consensus Working Group members at the meeting at WHO office.
Dr. Jyoti Mathad, in front of the WHO office when she visited for the meeting to discuss the consensus statement.