View project details

Return to ongoing list Change record

Database ID	659
Title	Networks II: Immunological, virological and behavioural factors influencing HCV infection among IDUs
Description	The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health problem affecting over 170 million people worldwide. In Australia an estimated 157,000 people have HCV and are at risk of serious disease, and 16,000 new infections occur each year. Treating HCV-related disease is expensive, and this healthcare burden is projected to grow significantly in coming years. Almost all new HCV infections in Australia occur among injecting drug users (IDUs), and despite our world-leading prevention programs, the virus is spreading. Consensus is emerging that the best hope for control of HCV and related disease lies in a vaccine; our research will lay much of the groundwork for its development. Our research to date (see our previous networks project) shows that IDUs are being infected with HCV more frequently than previously assumed, that many carry multiple strains, and that dominant strains vary rapidly in individuals over time. These results reinforce the view that our prevention methods will not reduce infection rates and that current anti-viral treatments are not the solution. Nevertheless, we also found that some IDUs remain free of HCV infection despite risky behaviour with infected associates; intensive study of the immune functioning of these persistently non-infected individuals holds promise for vaccine development. Our research is a collaboration between leading Australian epidemiologists, virologists and immunologists. Beginning in mid-2005, we will recruit 220 young IDUs and follow them regularly for two years. Recruits will describe their social networks and nominate IDUs with whom they inject, provide blood samples and be interviewed about their behaviour at 3-month intervals. Individuals with recent and resolved HCV infection, change of dominant strain and lack of infection despite risky behaviour will be identified and their blood analysed for genetic factors that may be linked to immune protection. The outcomes will be crucial to the development and trialling of a vaccine against HCV.
Status	Ongoing
Researchers	Margaret Hellard Campbell Aitken Peter Higgs
Collaborating researchers	Mandvi Bharadwaj Jim McClusky Rhonda McCaw Scott Bowden Eric Gowans Nick Crofts
Keywords	hepatitis C ; iv drug use; immune system ; immunologic diseases ; social networks
Institution	Burnet Institute
Collaborating institutions	Turning Point Alcohol & Drug Centre University of Melbourne. Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory
Funding institutions	National Health and Medical Research Council
Contact	Name  Campbell Aitken Phone  (03) 9282 2114
Indexed	Illicit drugs -> IV drug use (127) Epidemiology, consumption and prevalence (315) Health and medical -> Body systems & diseases -> Communicable diseases -> Hepatitis -> Hepatitis C (87) Health and medical -> Body systems & diseases -> Liver -> Hepatitis -> Hepatitis C (87) Health and medical -> Body systems & diseases -> Immune system (11) Health and medical -> Genetics (15) Prevention -> Prevention programs (25) Treatment (582) Geographic regions -> Australia (1003)

Return to ongoing list Change record

  © Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia 2004

Funded by Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

Web design by Starkis Design