title: The 5th Canadian Symposium on Hepatitis C Virus: We Are Not Done Yet-Remaining Challenges in Hepatitis C.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects approximately 268,000 Canadians and results in more years of life lost than any other infectious disease in the country. Both the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) have identified HCV-related liver disease as a priority and supported the establishment of a National Hepatitis C Research Network. In 2015, the introduction of new interferon- (IFN-) free therapies with high cure rates (>90%) and few side effects revolutionized HCV therapy. However, a considerable proportion of the population remains undiagnosed and treatment uptake remains low in Canada due to financial, geographical, cultural, and social barriers. Comprehensive prevention strategies, including enhanced harm reduction, broader screening, widespread treatment, and vaccine development, are far from being realized. The theme of the 2016 symposium, "We're not done yet: remaining challenges in Hepatitis C," was focused on identifying strategies to enhance prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of HCV to reduce disease burden and ultimately eliminate HCV in Canada.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: van Buuren
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Montréal (CHUM), Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fradette
authors.affiliation: The Kirby Institute, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grebely
authors.affiliation: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 4R4; University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4.
authors.forename: Mel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krajden
authors.affiliation: Multi-Organ Transplant Program, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Sonya A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: MacParland
authors.affiliation: The Kirby Institute, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.affiliation: Chronic Viral Illnesses Service, Division of Infectious Diseases and Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Sahar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saeed
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Chronic Viral Illnesses Service, Division of Infectious Diseases and Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Marina B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada H3A 2B4.
authors.forename: Selena M
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8484-3632
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sagan
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006526:Hepatitis C; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents