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Guest Post: Treatment/Research Opportunity from the National Institutes of Health

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By Editorial Team

1 min read

We are excited to share a guest post from researcher Steffan Cooper, Research Nurse Coordinator at the Liver Disease Branch of the National Institutes of Health.

Researchers in the Liver Disease Branch at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are interested in studying the natural history of successfully treated hepatitis C infection with direct-acting antiviral agents.

Hepatitis C is a viral infection of the liver. If left untreated, this virus can lead to serious health conditions such as the development of scar tissue in the liver (cirrhosis), liver failure, hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer), and even death.

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Hepatitis C is a treatable disease with oral medicines, and we are looking to understand why some people continue to experience health complications despite cure.

Eligibility criteria

To participate in the study, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Have a confirmed hepatitis C infection
  • Have never been treated before with a direct-acting antiviral
  • Be in general good health (other than HCV infection)

Potential participants will be assessed by a provider in the outpatient clinic of the Liver Disease Branch at NIH in Bethesda, Maryland, to determine eligibility for enrollment. If agreeable, the participant will undergo a comprehensive liver exam including bloodwork and imaging.

Why is this research beneficial?

Qualified patients will be treated with sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (Epclusa), a drug that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for hepatitis C. Patients will be closely monitored on a monthly basis by an NIH liver doctor while on therapy. All visits and treatments will be provided at no cost.

Following treatment, participants will continue to be monitored for 10 years on a semi-annual basis for any liver and non-liver related complications.

Additional study information

This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board and is based in the United States.

If you are interested in participating or have any questions about this research, please feel free to contact Research Nurse Coordinator Steffan Cooper at steffan.cooper@nih.gov.

This study is not sponsored by or affiliated with HepatitisC.net.

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