Ministry of Health Launches PHOTON Study in Indonesia to Strengthen Nutrition-Based Tuberculosis Prevention

This study aims to identify the nutritional support with the greatest potential to reduce the risk of TB.

The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia officially launched the Prevention of Household Tuberculosis with Optimal Nutrition (PHOTON) study in Indonesia at a Kick-Off Meeting held in Jakarta on 22 October 2026. The Rector of Universitas Indonesia, leaders of the Center for Global Resilience in Health and Nutrition (C-GRHEN), representatives of local and national partners and international funding organizations, and officials from the Ministry of Health’s Directorates General attended the event.

The launch marks the beginning of the PHOTON study in Indonesia and strengthens collaboration among the government, academic institutions, international research partners, and health stakeholders to support tuberculosis (TB) prevention efforts.

TB remains a major global health challenge that requires comprehensive approaches to prevention and control. Alongside timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment, understanding nutrition's role is important in addressing TB. Nutritional status may influence a person's susceptibility to TB. Stronger scientific evidence is needed to better understand this relationship and assess whether nutritional interventions can help improve TB prevention efforts. This is one of the key scientific rationales underpinning the PHOTON study.

The Prevention of Household Tuberculosis with Optimal Nutrition (PHOTON) is a multinational research programme comprising randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in Indonesia and Tanzania. The studies aim to evaluate the effectiveness of nutritional interventions in preventing TB among household contacts of people affected by TB. In Indonesia, C-GRHEN at Universitas Indonesia leads the study, while the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) leads the Tanzania study. This study received funding support from complementary grants from the Gates Foundation, Wellcome, and the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

PHOTON is designed to have adequate statistical power independently while being closely coordinated to address related research questions. This study aim to evaluate the effectiveness of nutritional interventions in preventing TB among household contacts of people with TB. In Indonesia, the Center for Global Resilience in Health and Nutrition (C-GRHEN) at Universitas Indonesia leads the study, while the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) leads the Tanzania study. The two trials are supported through complementary grants from the Gates Foundation, Wellcome, and the Novo Nordisk Foundation. In Indonesia, PHOTON is implemented in collaboration with the Summit Institute for Development, Siklus Indonesia, and the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU).

PHOTON Indonesia will investigate whether nutritional interventions can reduce TB incidence among people living in the same household as individuals with TB. The findings are expected to strengthen the scientific evidence on nutrition's role in TB prevention and inform the development of more effective prevention strategies. The study will also improve understanding of how nutrition-based approaches can be integrated into broader TB prevention and control efforts.

In Indonesia, this study is led by C-GRHEN (Center for Global Resilience in Health & Nutrition) at the University of Indonesia, with Prof. Dr. dr. Rina Agustina, M.Gizi., serving as the principal investigator for PHOTON Indonesia.

The Kick-Off Meeting brought together the Rector of Universitas Indonesia, C-GRHEN leadership, representatives of research partners and international funding organizations, as well as officials from the Ministry of Health’s Directorates General. The Ministry’s involvement is important in aligning the study with national TB programme priorities. Collaboration between the government and research institutions will also help ensure the findings are relevant to public health needs and have the potential to inform evidence-based policies.

As the lead institution for the study in Indonesia, C-GRHEN at Universitas Indonesia coordinates research activities and collaboration with various stakeholders. Implementation also involves national and subnational government authorities, health offices, healthcare facilities, health workers, and communities in the study areas. Coordination and stakeholder engagement are essential to support operational readiness, build community understanding, and ensure the research adheres to ethical principles and scientific standards.

Through PHOTON, researchers will further investigate the potential of nutritional interventions in TB prevention. The findings are expected to strengthen the evidence base for prevention strategies and support more integrated TB control approaches that incorporate nutrition and public health.

The launch of the PHOTON study marks an important first step toward long-term collaboration that connects research, policy, health systems, and communities. With support from the government, Universitas Indonesia, international partners, and other stakeholders, PHOTON aims to advance research and strengthen TB prevention efforts in Indonesia.

The Ministry of Health supports the PHOTON study as a preventive measure against the spread of TB cases.