Envisioning a Multidisciplinary HBV Cure Research Agenda.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Social Sciences
• Medical Ethics

Background:

• Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a global health challenge requiring innovative cure strategies.
• Current research on HBV cure is increasingly recognizing the need for a multidisciplinary approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current understanding of multidisciplinary aspects in hepatitis B cure research.
• To identify gaps and areas requiring further attention in the field.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of peer-reviewed publications.
• Analysis of socio-behavioral sciences, ethics, community engagement, and translational/implementation science aspects.

Main Results:

• The literature on multidisciplinary HBV cure research is expanding but has deficiencies.
• Key areas needing attention include treatment discontinuation acceptability, HBV-related stigma, co-infection impacts (e.g., HIV), and resource-limited setting implementation.
• A multidisciplinary framework is essential for developing effective, acceptable, scalable, and equitable HBV cures.

Conclusions:

• A comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach is vital for advancing hepatitis B cure research.
• Integrating social, ethical, and implementation sciences will facilitate the development of accessible and effective HBV cures worldwide.