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Abstract Background Although tuberculosis (TB) is a curable disease, treatment is complex and prolonged, requiring considerable commitment from patients. This study aimed to understand the common perspectives of TB patients across Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa throughout their disease journey, including the emotional, psychological, and practical challenges that patients and their families face. Methods This qualitative market research study was conducted between July 2020 and February 2021. Eight TB patients from each country (n = 40) completed health questionnaires, video/telephone interviews, and diaries regarding their experiences of TB. Additionally, 52 household members were interviewed. Patients at different stages of their TB treatment journey, from a range of socioeconomic groups, with or without TB risk factors were sought. Anonymized data underwent triangulation and thematic analysis by iterative coding of statements. Results The sample included 23 men and 17 women aged 13–60 years old, with risk factors for TB reported by 23/40 patients. Although patients were from different countries and cultural backgrounds, experiencing diverse health system contexts, five themes emerged as common across the sample. 1) Economic hardship from loss of income and medical/travel expenses. 2) Widespread stigma, delaying presentation and deeply affecting patients’ emotional wellbeing. 3) TB and HIV co-infection was particularly challenging, but increased TB awareness and accelerated diagnosis. 4) Disruption to family life strained relationships and increased patients’ feelings of isolation and loneliness. 5) The COVID-19 pandemic made it easier for TB patients to keep their condition private, but disrupted access to services. Conclusions Despite disparate cultural, socio-economic, and systemic contexts across countries, TB patients experience common challenges. A robust examination of the needs of individual patients and their families is required to improve the patient experience, encourage adherence, and promote cure, given the limitations of current treatment.

# Background Despite a large and increasing non-communicable diseases (NCD) burden in Africa, research to inform NCD risk factors, management and outcomes in African populations is limited. # Methods The GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Africa NCD Open Lab targeted outstanding early career African scientists, providing funding and scientific support for projects designed and led by African investigators to increase NCD understanding. Applicants were eligible if based in research institutions/universities in Cameroon, Côte D’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, The Gambia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania and Uganda. Proposals in scope addressed cardiovascular disease, oncology, chronic respiratory disease, chronic kidney disease and diabetes, and could examine relationships between these NCDs and infectious diseases, including across the life-course. Ten awards offering up to £100,000 (US$128,500) for two years’ funding were available to cover research project costs. Additionally, GSK offered in-kind scientific support and mentoring throughout the award duration. # Results From 330 unique proposals submitted, 225 met the eligibility criteria covering cardiovascular disease (25.8%), metabolic disorders (23.1%), oncology (17.8%), respiratory disease (8.9%), chronic kidney disease (7.1%), and ‘other’ (17.3%). The highest number of eligible applications were by researchers from Nigeria (28.4%), Kenya (15.1%), and Uganda (14.2%). Following a multi-stage review process by GSK scientists and an independent Scientific Advisory Board of predominantly African scientists, nine proposals were recommended for funding and collaborative support; three cardiovascular, two respiratory, two chronic kidney disease, and two diabetes. The most common training needs identified by applicants were biostatistics, grants management, clinical trial design, and writing for publication. # Conclusions By supporting open innovation research, the GSK Africa NCD Open Lab identified a substantial number of African early career researchers enthusiastic to engage in projects relevant to NCDs. In addition to funding, capacity building efforts are critical to ensure sustainable NCD research and a thriving African research community.

# Background The majority of premature deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) occur in low-income countries. However, clinical research in these patient populations is generally lacking. Thus, many treatment paradigms for NCDs are either absent or extrapolated from populations with different genetics, health needs, and socio-economic circumstances. # Methods To evaluate the outcomes from the first call for proposals from the GSK Africa NCD Open Lab. Funding was offered to research projects aiming to improve understanding and generate new knowledge of NCDs in African populations. Proposals were sought for projects relating to cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease or chronic kidney diseases. The proposal had to be led by African scientists from Cameroon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Côte d'Ivoire, Malawi, Nigeria or Uganda and include a capacity building component. # Results The 155 eligible proposals covered oncology (31.0%), cardiovascular disease (27.1%), metabolic disorders such as diabetes (20.6%), chronic respiratory disease (9.7%) and chronic kidney disease (6.5%). Most applications were from Nigeria (37.8%), Kenya (17.3%) and Uganda (13.5%). Following initial review, 23 proposals were considered by a Scientific Advisory Board, and ten were invited to submit full applications. Five projects were funded in cardiovascular disease, the interaction between cardiovascular disease and HIV infection, breast cancer, asthma and chronic kidney disease/diabetes. Principal investigators were from Nigeria, Uganda and Malawi with collaborators from Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, the UK, USA and the Netherlands. All of the projects involved research capacity strengthening elements. # Conclusions These projects have the potential to improve the understanding of the aetiology and natural history of specific NCDs, while also informing the development of clinical guidelines for the effective management of disease. However, far more needs to be done to address capacity building and funding for NCD research in Africa.