Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a major public health problem in Canada, affecting more than 200,000 people and causing more years of life lost than any other infectious disease in the country. As such, HCV is recognized as a global infectious disease threat. Researchers across the four CIHR pillars (Biomedical, Clinical, Health services and Social, Cultural, Environmental, and Population Health) must work together with policymakers, community organizations and people with lived experience to ensure excellent research translates to maximal impact. For the past 13 years, the Canadian Network on Hepatitis C Virus (CanHepC) has organized The Canadian Symposium on Hepatitis C Virus (CSHCV), which has succeeded in promoting the exchange of ideas between social scientists, public health experts, basic scientists, community members and clinicians all working towards improving prevention, diagnosis and therapeutic strategies to eliminate HCV in Canada. While Canada has made significant progress in meeting treatment targets set by the World Health Organization (WHO) over the past decade, several challenges persist. The theme of this year's symposium, "Beyond Sustained Virologic Response: Optimizing Outcomes in HCV Care," aims to address these challenges comprehensively. Focusing on strategies to prevent reinfections, improve screening for co-morbidities and mitigate competing risks such as deaths caused by overdoses. In addition, we have organized a panel discussion to explore strategies to improve access to HCV care among immigrant populations. This CIHR Planning and Dissemination Grant aims to seek support for the 13th CSHCV symposium to be held on March 1, 2024, in Toronto and ensure that the symposia continue to be an annual forum for exchange among researchers, policymakers, and community members involved in HCV spanning the four CIHR pillars.