Report from Breakout Groups - Biology And Pathogenesis of HCV & Treatment
Basic Science
1. There is a strong need for systems to study HCV.
- ideal cell culture
-chimeric virus, vectors
2. Emphasis between clinician and scientists re: availability.
3. Taking advantage of the experts in hepatocyte culture, immunology, etc.
4 . Identification of receptor
5. Small animal models-transgenic mice
6. Anti-viral design
We have excellent science and scientists in Canada. There is a difficulty in drawing the attention of this excellence to the problem of HCV. The HCV initiative should be to earmark funds to draw this excellence.
We need to strive for things to achieve in Canada. We need more transformational research in Canada. We must bring more of these people together in the study of HCV. We need to invite a broad spectrum and see what the quality of the proposals that come in is and choose the best.
Clinical Research And Treatment
1. Define the natural history and identify prognostic factors-invasive versus non invasive assessment. It is essential that we form a partnership with HCV patients and groups. Lee need to develop innovative approaches to IDU. We need HCV centers across the country.
2. We must study the impact of the disease-fatigue, hepatocellular carcinoma as it relates to Canadians.