Timothy Locksmith from University of Wisconsin Visit to Nepal

Timothy Locksmith from University of Wisconsin, USA visited Nepal for the first time from 6 July to 1 August 2026 as part of the TB SHIELD project. His visit had two main objectives: to visit the project’s field sites and assess locations for the next phase, and to work with project partner, Center for Molecular Dynamics Nepal (CMDN) to establish local sequencing of air samples.

Tim worked with BNMT and local partners to visit project sites and hospitals in Kathmandu, Nepalgunj and Biratnagar. The visits provided an opportunity to see ongoing air sampling firsthand, discuss the project with hospital teams, and identify suitable rooms for samplers at two hospitals, Koshi and Bheri Hospitals, planned for the next phase.

At CMDN, Tim worked alongside the laboratory team to establish the processes needed to turn air samples into genetic data using Oxford Nanopore and Illumina sequencing. By the end of the visit, the team had successfully completed the process and reviewed the first sequencing results from air collected in Nepal. The nanopore sequencing worked well, while an equipment issue affected the Illumina run, which will be repeated once replacement consumables arrive.

The visit was important not only for advancing laboratory work but also for troubleshooting challenges and making field decisions that could not be addressed remotely. With the key processes now established, the next steps are clear: following approvals, sampling will begin at the two hospitals and the sequencing work at CMDN will be repeated with tighter controls. The collaboration built with BNMT, CMDN, GENETUP, TB Champions and hospital teams will also help shape the future direction of the TB SHIELD project.