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The 14th Canadian Symposium on Hepatitis C Virus: From research breakthroughs to equitable health care for priority
Daniel N Elakpa1,2, David Lawton3,4, Trinity H Tooley5
1McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Background:
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects approximately 214,000 Canadians. While the availability of safe, effective direct-acting antivirals (DAA) has led to decreased rates of chronic HCV infection and increased treatment uptake, major challenges to achieving HCV elimination remain. This report summarizes key findings from the 14th Canadian Symposium on Hepatitis C Virus, which focused on advancing equitable strategies for HCV elimination through multidisciplinary dialogue.
Methods:
The symposium was titled "From Research Breakthroughs to Equitable Healthcare for Priority Populations," and brought together researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and community stakeholders to advance Canada's efforts toward HCV elimination by 2030. Hosted in Quebec City by the Canadian Network on Hepatitis C (CanHepC), the symposium highlighted key findings across biomedical, clinical, population health, and health services research.
Results:
Biomedical presentations emphasized progress in HCV vaccine development, host-virus interactions, and T-cell exhaustion mechanisms. Notable findings included novel insights into immune escape pathways, host-targeted antivirals, and epigenetic barriers to T-cell reinvigoration. Clinical and population health sessions addressed inequities in HCV prevention and care for women and pregnant people, incarcerated individuals, and people who use drugs. Presenters showcased the impact of decentralized point-of-care HCV RNA testing on diagnosis and linkage to treatment in high-risk populations, including those with unstable housing. Implementation-focused discussions included updates to the national Blueprint to Inform HCV Elimination and strategies to scale nurse-led and community-based interventions.
Conclusions:
The symposium emphasized the importance of integrating scientific advances with community-driven and equity-focused actions, particularly for priority populations experiencing systemic barriers to care. Through inclusive dialogue and multidisciplinary knowledge exchange, the symposium reaffirmed CanHepC's commitment to bridging research and practice to accelerate the path toward HCV elimination in Canada.
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