Active HCV diagnosis to help curb liver cancer in Africa
Official title: Active HCV diagnosis to support prevention of HCC in LMICs
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11535351 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A project to develop and validate a rapid HCV test on the DASH platform to improve diagnosis and prevent liver cancer in sub-Saharan Africa, especially Nigeria and other LMIC settings.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 9, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $26,220 |
| NIH project number | 3U01CA292771-03S3 |
| Project ID | NIH-11535351 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in Nigeria, with suspected or known HCV exposure or risk factors who would benefit from improved diagnostic pathways.
✕Less likely to help
Persons without suspected HCV infection or in settings with readily available accurate testing may see little direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on making hepatitis C testing easier and more reliable in low- and middle-income countries where current tests are hard to access. Researchers will create and test a DASH-based HCV diagnostic that can confirm active infection, reducing the need for multiple visits and lowering costs. By improving the testing pathway from antibody detection to confirmation of viremia, the program aims to shorten the time to treatment and reduce progression to liver cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could get quicker, more accurate diagnosis and earlier treatment to prevent serious liver disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that streamlined diagnostic pathways can reduce loss to follow-up and expedite treatment in LMICs.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcfall, Sally Maureen — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Mcfall, Sally Maureen
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.