About the Viral Hepatitis Action Coalition
The Viral Hepatitis Action Coalition (VHAC), composed of
private sector organizations in collaboration with CDC's Division of
Viral Hepatitis and the CDC Foundation, was launched in January 2010.
All partners of this alliance show a demonstrated commitment to making
meaningful advances in the prevention, screening and treatment of viral
hepatitis.
With the advancement of therapies for viral hepatitis and the
release of a report from the Institutes of Medicine, CDC and its
partners are at a crossroads in making dramatic progress in addressing
this disease. The Coalition will provide an overall framework to
respond to upcoming issues of importance in the field, guide a national
education campaign and support CDC-led research and program evaluation.
The Coalition will work with the CDC Foundation to help CDC form
public-private partnerships to launch CDC-initiated projects. Industry
partners will be invited to partner with the CDC Foundation in
supporting these projects as it suits their respective interests.
The Coalition's first priorities will be to increase awareness and
to fund essential research to build the evidence needed to revise the
national recommendations for HCV screening and testing. Initial VHAC
projects include:
- Birth-cohort Evaluation to Advance Screening and Testing
for Hepatitis C (BEST-C)
view
proposal
- National Hepatitis Education Campaign
view
proposal
News Release: CDC
Foundation Launches Viral Hepatitis Action Coalition
Charter Members
Gilead Sciences
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
OraSure Technologies
Tibotec Therapeutics
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Membership
The CDC Foundation is currently seeking additional members. In
addition to supporting the overall Coalition, members will have the
opportunity to fund and partner with CDC on CDC-led research and
education projects as priorities are identified.
Coalition members also will support CDC by sharing research data,
connecting CDC to appropriate stakeholders and networks, and providing
feedback on the information and tools needed in the field to respond to
the recommendations outlined in the IOM report on hepatitis.
Other critical, implementation partners in the hepatitis community –
from academia, patient advocacy and nonprofit groups – will be engaged
in every research and education effort of the Coalition to ensure
community-wide input into improving screening and treatment of viral
hepatitis. For more information about membership, please contact
Leah-Lane Lowe, Assistant Director of Public-Private Partnerships, CDC
Foundation, llowe@cdcfoundation.org.
About Viral Hepatitis
Chronic viral hepatitis caused by hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C
virus represents a major health problem for the United States. CDC
estimates that approximately 3.2 million Americans are chronically
infected with hepatitis C virus, with an estimated 8,000 to 10,000
hepatitis C virus-related deaths annually. The incidence of acute
hepatitis C declined during the 1990s but has plateaued in recent years.
While the incidence of acute hepatitis B has declined markedly since
1990, an estimated 1.4 million Americans remain chronically infected,
with an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 chronic hepatitis B virus-related
deaths per year. In the United States, African-Americans are
disproportionately affected by chronic hepatitis C virus infection,
representing 12 percent of the U.S. population but approximately 22
percent of those with the disease. A disparity by race exists for
Asian/Pacific Islanders, who represent only 4 percent of the U.S.
population, but over half of those with chronic hepatitis B infection.
Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report
Hepatitis and Liver Cancer: A National Strategy for Prevention
and Control of Hepatitis B and C
Released: January 11, 2010
Available online:
www.iom.edu/viralhepatitis
Additional information: www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/IOMnews.htm
About CDC's Division of Viral Hepatitis
In collaboration with domestic and global partners, CDC's Division
of Viral Hepatitis (DVH) provides the scientific and programmatic
foundation and leadership for the prevention and control of hepatitis
virus. DVH conducts research, surveillance, education and training, and
evaluation to facilitate policy and design interventions to address the
most common forms of viral hepatitis in the United States: hepatitis A
virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). These
unrelated viruses are transmitted through different routes and require
specific prevention strategies. CDC also conducts surveillance and
investigation of other forms of viral hepatitis, particularly those
common in other parts of the world, and serves as a WHO Collaborating
Center for Reference and Research on Viral Hepatitis.
Learn more: www.cdc.gov/hepatitis
About the CDC Foundation
The CDC Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization that
helps CDC do more, faster, by forging effective partnerships between CDC
and corporations,
foundations,
organizations
and individuals
to fight threats to health and safety. The CDC Foundation currently
manages approximately 200 programs in
the U.S. and around the world. Each project involves a talented team of
CDC experts and at least one outside funding partner.
For More Information
For information about becoming a member, please contact:
Leah-Lane Lowe, CDC Foundation, 404.523.3496 or llowe@cdcfoundation.org
For more information about VHAC activities, please contact:
Amy Remick, CDC,
aremick@cdc.g