Kirby Institute

Evaluation funding for testing

Professor Jason Grebely, head of the Kirby Institute’s Hepatitis C and Drug Use Research Group

Professor Jason Grebely, head of the Kirby Institute’s Hepatitis C and Drug Use Research Group was awarded $1,498,085 for research to evaluate a national testing program for hepatitis C.

“Testing and treatment of hepatitis C is hampered by current health service pathways which require multiple healthcare visits. People living with hepatitis C are some of Australia’s most marginalised populations, and so it’s vital we reduce the barriers to accessing testing and treatment services,” said Professor Grebely in a statement announcing the grant.

“Our team has previously evaluated a new test for detection of active hepatitis C infection in one hour, called a point-of-care test, which enables same-visit diagnosis and treatment. This test is now approved in Australia and has changed how testing and treatment can be delivered.”

The Partnership Project will evaluate a national program funded by the Australian government to scale-up point-of-care hepatitis C testing in Australia. The project leverages considerable cash contributions from government ($6.7 million), and from other partners ($670,000 from Gilead and $1.9 million in tests and equipment from Cepheid).

“We are in a unique position in Australia to become one of the first countries in the world to eliminate hepatitis C. This funding will enable us to track and evaluate the program’s implementation, facilitating further scale-up of testing in Australia, and overseas.”