title: The Second Canadian Symposium on hepatitis C virus: a call to action.
abstract: In Canada, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection results in considerable morbidity, mortality and health-related costs. Within the next three to 10 years, it is expected that tolerable, short-duration (12 to 24 weeks) therapies capable of curing >90% of those who undergo treatment will be approved. Given that most of those already infected are aging and at risk for progressive liver disease, building research-based interdisciplinary prevention, care and treatment capacity is an urgent priority. In an effort to increase the dissemination of knowledge in Canada in this rapidly advancing field, the National CIHR Research Training Program in Hepatitis C (NCRTP-HepC) established an annual interdisciplinary Canadian Symposium on Hepatitis C Virus. The first symposium was held in Montreal, Quebec, in 2012, and the second symposium was held in Victoria, British Columbia, in 2013. The current article presents highlights from the 2013 meeting. It summarizes recent advances in HCV research in Canada and internationally, and presents the consensus of the meeting participants that Canada would benefit from having its own national HCV strategy to identify critical gaps in policies and programs to more effectively address the challenges of expanding HCV screening and treatment.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grebely
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bilodeau
authors.forename: Jordan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Feld
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bruneau
authors.forename: Benedikt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Jennifer F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Raven
authors.forename: Eve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Choucha
authors.forename: Rob P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: Selena M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sagan
authors.forename: Joyce A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bialystok
authors.forename: D Lorne
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Tyrrell
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Houghton
authors.forename: Mel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krajden
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D006291:Health Policy; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D011634:Public Health
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents