Grant: Dissemination Events - Priority Announcement: Hepatitis C

In Canada, Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects approximately 240,000 people with ~7,900 new infections each year. Many HCV exposed individuals develop a life-long persistent infection that can lead to progressive liver damage, cancer and death. 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 HCV but until recently, a forum for exchanging these findings and promoting collaborations among investigators was lacking. The First Canadian Symposium on Hepatitis C Virus (CSHCV) was held in February 2012 and successfully promoted research exchange, collaboration and knowledge dissemination among Canadian trainees and researchers. With the recent release of increasingly effective and curative antiviral agents against HCV, the potential to eliminate HCV infection in Canada is becoming increasingly feasible. Eradication of HCV will require adoption of proven public health prevention, care and treatment interventions. The Second CSHCV will provide an opportunity to discuss strategies for formulating an effective public health response to support eradication of HCV in Canada. The Second CSHCV, scheduled on March 4, 2013, will build upon the success of the first meeting and provide a platform for knowledge exchange among Canadian researchers. The symposium will increase its scope by recruiting community-based groups, health care practitioners and health policy makers to participate in the discussion. The overall goal of this CIHR Dissemination Grant is thus to support the planning and conduct of the Second CSHCV which we hope will continue as an annual forum for exchange among all researchers, policy makers and community members involved in HCV and spanning the four CIHR pillars.