Lanner Group Partners USAID and LSTM in Study Aiming to Revolutionize TB Treatment Across Developing World Through Simulation Modeling

HOUSTON, TX, December 09, 2010 (Press-News.org) The world's oldest school of tropical medicine, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK, has begun life-saving research using simulation specialist Lanner Group's award-winning WITNESS system as part of an USAID-funded research program focused on improving health systems across the developing world.

WITNESS software will support a Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) research program by modeling the operational roll-out of new Tuberculosis (TB) diagnostic tools. The simulator gives researchers the power to optimize the way in which the tools are utilized by informing their understanding of processes. This includes identification of bottle necks and resource requirements, together with patient and health system costs. As a result the software will help to deliver better diagnosis rates and ultimately, reductions in sickness and mortality.

The research programme is part of a five-year initiative directed by The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) under the name TREAT-TB, and funded by USAID. The initial phase of the program will be based on data collected from Tanzania.

"This is an exciting new research program with the propensity to support huge improvements to healthcare in Africa and developing countries," comments Ivor Langley, Operational Research Analyst at LSTM.

"WITNESS will perform a critical role in helping to model processes which maximize the use of TB diagnostic tools, increasing diagnosis rates.

"Simulation presents a low cost, low risk means of facilitating better decision-making, avoiding unintended consequences, and ensuring that precious funding for these kinds of projects is focused on the ultimate objective - improving healthcare and reducing mortality rates."

Follow "Lanner Group" on Facebook and Twitter - twitter handle @WitnessSim.

Lanner Group, Inc. is the Houston, TX based Americas subsidiary of Lanner Group Ltd, a UK company dedicated to delivering innovative solutions to model, analyze and optimize processes through simulation software enabling business managers to make comprehensive decisions in a risk-free environment. Its client roster includes over 3000 customers including end users HP, 3M, Boeing, Ford, GM, Nissan, and Rolls Royce. In 2010 Lanner Group, Inc. was certified a Top 20% Performer by Open Ratings Inc., a Dun & Bradstreet company based on Past Performance Evaluation responses of its reference customers.

For further information, please contact our communications representative Alexandra Brooks at brookspr[.]lanner.com