"An Operational Research Roadmap to Simplify Hepatitis B Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries."

Hepatitis B infection is a global health problem that disproportionately impacts low- and middle-income countries. WHO estimates 296 million people live with chronic hepatitis B infection worldwide; 87% live in the African, South-East Asian, and the Western Pacific Regions. Hepatitis B contributes to 820,000 deaths annually (more than HIV or malaria). Hepatitis B is the most common cause of liver cancer and the third leading cause of cancer deaths globally. This report provides a path forward to identify barriers, learn while doing, and establish simplified approaches to hepatitis B testing, care, and treatment in order to improve global health equity and save lives.

This webinar presented the four priority research areas in the report and accompanying "Roadmap."
This webinar was held Monday, March 11, 2024

1. Simplifying models of care to assure decentralized and equitable access to hepatitis B testing and treatment;
2. Improving interventions to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HBV that protect the health of both mother and newborn, as well as their families;
3. Developing and operationalizing technologies for simplified hepatitis B diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring
4. Identifying persons living with hepatitis B at highest risk for progression of fibrosis and development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

This webinar discussed the Roadmap's proposed next steps and pathways for dissemination and engagement.

Agenda:
- Welcome & Context, Dr. John Ward, CGHE
- HBV Evidence Gaps in LMICs, Dr. Alex Stockdale, The University of Liverpool
- Objectives, Process & Priority Areas of Roadmap, Dr. Neil Gupta, CGHE
- Key Informant Panel on Priority Areas, Facilitated by Dr. Neil Gupta, CGHE

Priority 1: Dr. Yvonne Nartey, University of Cape Coast; Dr. Janus Ong, University of Philippines, Manila
Priority 2: Dr. Gibril Ndow, MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM
Priority 3: Dr. Lewis Roberts, Mayo Clinic
Priority 4: Dr. Hailemichael Desalegn, St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College

- Roadmap Activities & Cost Estimations, Lindsey Hiebert-Suwondo, CGHE
- Roadmap Partners Panel, Facilitated by Dr. John Ward, CGHE

Dr. Mark Ghany, National Institutes of Health
Dr. Rabson Kachala, Ministry of Health, Malawi
Dr. Wendy Spearman, Society on Liver Disease in Africa
Dr. Philippa Easterbrook, World Health Organization
Mr. Danjuma Adda, World Hepatitis Alliance

- Closure, Dr. John Ward, CGHE