Drug-user study to eliminate hepatitis C virus
A major cause of liver disease and cancer, the virus affects about 200,000 people in the UK, mostly injected medicines.
A study of £ 2.8m will note that the virus can be completely stopped if the treatment is adequately increased.
At present, treatment can cure over 90% of patients with some side effects within eight to 12 weeks, although the cost of new anti-viral is important.
During the study, researchers will treat up to 500 people in NHS Teside, who inject drugs in a two-year period.
Treatments will be offered in many settings including pharmacies, addiction services and prisons.
It is estimated that this will reduce chronic hepatitis C in the population of people "on the major and rapid scale of treatment" which inject two-thirds of the medicines.
The results will be used to guide clinical practice and policy, and support NHS decisions whether drug users should be targeted for early treatment in the community.
A five-year study has been announced on Saturday before World Hepatitis Day.
Image Copyright Science Photo Library
Image captions It has been estimated that about 500 to 600 people are injecting medicines in and around Glasgow city center
Professor Sharon Hutchison, who is a joint lead investigator in research, said: "The study will produce empirical evidence that treatment of people who inject drugs can reduce the spread of infection.
"We know that people who inject drugs can be affected again.
"However, we also know that new HCV drugs are highly effective.
"We estimate that if the HCV treatment increases substantially, then the virus can eventually be terminated.
"The study will test the population using UK-level data in the UK."
Researchers from GCU and Bristol will collaborate with many other institutions, including Dundee, Cambridge and Queen Mary's universities.
Health Protection Scotland, NHS Tideside, Public Health England, Scottish Drugs Forum, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and University of California San Diego.
The study is funded by the National Institute for Health Research.
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