The Kirby Institute and the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) at UNSW Sydney have been jointly awarded a $9,060,140 NHMRC Program Grant to conduct research on improving the lives of people with problematic drug use through improved management and treatment of hepatitis C in this group.
The program grant will be led by Kirby Institute Professors Greg Dore and Andrew Lloyd and NDARC Professors Louisa Degenhardt and Michael Farrell.
The research will focus on reducing the prevalence and burden of hepatitis C among people who inject drugs by increasing their access to effective drug dependence management and to anti-viral medications for hepatitis C.
NDARC’s Director Professor Michael Farrell said he greatly welcomed the chance to work with his colleagues at the Kirby Institute who are global leaders in the development of anti-viral therapies for the effective treatment of hepatitis C.
“An estimated 227,000 people are living with chronic HCV in Australia, 80% of whom acquired infection through injecting drug use,” said Professor Farrell.
“This Program Grant is focussed on reducing morbidity and mortality in this population by developing broad strategies to improve access to health care in this marginalised group who are living with the dual burden of drug dependence and chronic HCV.”
Media contact:
Marion Downey | P: (02) 9385 0180 | 0401 713 850 | m.downey@unsw.edu.au
