(Figure 1. Opening of the meeting between TMRC, Duke University (LAmB-FAST research team), and Bach Mai Hospital (source: Bach Mai Hospital))
On the afternoon of March 27, 2026, members of the Tropical Medicine Research Center for Talaromycosis (TMRC), an international research delegation from Duke University (USA), and representatives from Bach Mai Hospital convened to discuss the implementation of the LAmB-FAST study. This multi-center clinical trial represents a significant milestone in enhancing the capacity for research and treatment of invasive fungal diseases in Vietnam.
The study is set against a challenging global health backdrop, where fungal diseases account for over 1.6 million deaths annually. Regarding Talaromyces marneffei specifically, it is estimated that there are 17,300 new cases and 4,900 deaths each year. Following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2022 release of the Fungal Priority Pathogens List, developing new therapeutic regimens for Talaromycosis has become an urgent global necessity. Consequently, the LAmB-FAST trial will focus on evaluating the efficacy of novel antifungal agents in Talaromycosis patients.
During the working session, experts detailed the operational procedures, ranging from data entry and management systems to multidisciplinary coordination mechanisms involving the Institute of Tropical Medicine, the Department of Pharmacy, and the Microbiology and Laboratory departments. As a leading tertiary referral hospital and a primary research site for the project, Bach Mai Hospital is expected to provide high-standard scientific data, contributing to the development of standardized treatment guidelines at both national and international levels.
This collaboration extends beyond a single clinical trial; it paves the way for long-term development in high-quality human resource training. It also enables Vietnamese clinical medicine to integrate more deeply into international research networks, moving toward the goal of comprehensive and multi-modal patient care. Detailed information regarding the meeting is also available on the Bach Mai Hospital website: https://bachmai.gov.vn/bai-viet/bach-mai-hop-tac-quoc-te-trien-khai-nghien-cuu-lamb-fast-trong-dieu-tri-benh-nam-xam-lan?id=84429399-ff5f-4f4d-b20e-56adf66837b6