In the early years of the 1900s, people suffering from tuberculosis were drawn to Colorado, seeking relief from the disease. In the last 20 years, tuberculosis has attracted a new breed to the state: researchers intent upon finding a cure.

They come to Colorado State University where, at state-of-the-art facilities in several locations, perhaps the premier tuberculosis research team in the world is to be found. And while breakthroughs come slowly in fighting this ancient disease, those who work in the Mycobacteria Research Laboratories are in a hurry. Tuberculosis, once in decline, has come roaring back around the world as HIV has spread.

Today, the MRL boasts a staff of 168. Its visionary founder, Dr. Patrick Brennan, laid the groundwork for the research group 25 years ago, intending to create an internationally recognized center for the study of pathogens that cause diseases like tuberculosis and leprosy. Brennan built his team by going after the top researchers in the field.

TB is caused by various strains of pathogens that cause often fatal diseases. While generally associated with the lungs, it can attack other parts of the body. It has been estimated that a third of the world's population has been exposed