Grant: Dissemination Events - Priority Announcement: Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects 170 million individuals worldwide. In Canada, approximately 240,000 are infected with an estimated 4,000 new infections each year. The majority of HCV exposed individuals develop a life-long persistent infection that can lead to irreversible liver damage and even cancer. The health and socio-economic burden of HCV in terms of disability, dysfunction, morbidity and mortality is considerable. Both CIHR and Health Canada have identified liver disease due to HCV and research capacity building in this area as an urgent priority. Over the past 10 years, Canadian researchers have contributed to major discoveries in the field of Hepatitis C. Despite this internationally recognized success, it is evident that interactions between Canadian scientists and clinicians need to be strengthened in order to effectively respond to current and future challenges in the management of the disease. In light of the aforesaid, we believe that a Canadian conference on HCV is timely and provides an ideal forum to exchange research findings, promote collaborators, and create synergy among Canadian investigators. The overall goal of this CIHR Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant is to support the planning and conduct of the First Canadian Symposium on Hepatitis C Virus (CSHCV). This meeting will be organized by and builds upon the established network of the National Canadian Research Training Program in Hepatitis C (NCRTP-Hep C). This is the first of what we hope will become an annual forum for exchange among all Canadian investigators working on HCV and spanning the four CIHR pillars and knowledge translation for healthcare practitioners and community based groups.