The Hepatitis B Foundation was awarded funding to launch a national project to engage people living with hepatitis B virus (HBV), according to a news release.

 

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute’s Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award Program provided the funding to support a project that will incorporate patient input into the development of HBV treatment and clinical research.

 

Project leaders will identify key research questions as prioritized by patients and aim to address them through patient-centered comparative effectiveness research (CER), according to the release.

 

Titled “Improving Capacity for Patient-Centered CER to Address Hepatitis B,” the project will use patient feedback to guide research, improve care and shape the future of HBV treatment and prevention and will be led by senior public health program director at the Hepatitis B Foundation Yasmin Ibrahim, MD, PhD, MBA.

 

HBV is a highly contagious viral infection that can cause liver damage. In the United States, up to 1.89 million people are living with chronic HBV, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. While there is no cure for HBV, treatments can help stave off serious liver disease and liver cancer.

“This is an exciting opportunity,” Ibrahim said in the release. “We’ve worked closely in recent years with stakeholders to help ensure that the voices of people living with hepatitis B are incorporated into drug development and clinical care. This award will help us solidify those efforts, bring new voices to the table and advance our work in a more structured and impactful way.”

To read more, click #Hepatitis B. There, you’ll see headlines such as “New Global Reports Assess Progress Toward Hepatitis B and C Elimination,” “Many Adults Underestimate Hepatitis B Virus and Vaccination Benefits” and “Study Backs Early Hepatitis B Treatment—Even Without Liver Damage.”