Hepatitis C Research Initiative Partnerships
PHAC/CIHR Hepatitis C Research Initiative MOU
New collaboration promotes research in areas targeting Hepatitis C research
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute of Infection and Immunity (CIHR-III) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) are collaborating to support, promote and enhance hepatitis C research and training in Canada. This partnership has been formalized with a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two agencies. Through the partnership, CIHR-III and PHAC are working collaboratively to identify research priority areas to address gaps in hepatitis C research.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) estimates that 250,000 people in Canada are infected with HCV and between 3,200-5,000 individuals are newly infected each year. As a result, the burden of hepatitis C on health-care and social systems is considerable and therefore prevention and the need to control hepatitis C transmission cannot be overemphasized.
The goal of the PHAC/CIHR Hepatitis C Research Initiative MOU is to foster bilateral cooperation between CIHR and PHAC to ensure an integrated approach to supporting, promoting and enhancing hepatitis C associated research and training.
The Memorandum of Understanding will provide funding of $954,000 per year for fiscal years 2008-09 through 2014-15 in four research streams:
- Biomedical and Clinical;
- Psychosocial, Behavioural and Epidemiology;
- Knowledge Translation; and
- Training
Together, PHAC and CIHR-III are supporting hepatitis C researchers committed to developing new knowledge that will contribute to evidence-based health policies, programs and interventions. The research will lead to better treatments, therapies and vaccines and, more effective public health responses, practices, guidelines, and quality assurance practices.