Developing a tool to screen for Hepatitis C in emergency departments
Official title: Assessing performance of a Hepatitis C Emergency Department (HepC-END) Screening Tool
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-10925373 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new way to help emergency departments quickly find people who might have Hepatitis C, especially those at higher risk because of opioid use, so they can get diagnosed and treated sooner.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $651,976 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA057886-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10925373 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals over 21 years old who may be at risk for Hepatitis C, particularly those with a history of injection drug use.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at risk for Hepatitis C or those who have already been diagnosed and treated for the virus may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating and testing a new screening tool for Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in emergency departments, particularly targeting individuals who may be at high risk due to behaviors associated with the opioid epidemic. The study aims to improve the identification of undiagnosed HCV infections by utilizing an innovative approach that combines artificial intelligence with clinical data. By implementing this tool in emergency settings, the research seeks to enhance the effectiveness of screening programs and ensure that more individuals receive timely diagnosis and treatment for HCV.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to earlier detection and treatment of Hepatitis C, significantly improving health outcomes for affected individuals.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success with emergency department-based screening programs for Hepatitis C, indicating that innovative approaches like this may also yield positive results.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Park, Haesuk — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Park, Haesuk
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Rational hepatitis C vaccine design guided by natural clearance patterns
A Johns Hopkins team is studying how some people naturally clear hepatitis C to guide a vaccine that could prevent infection.
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Real-world patient and clinician preferences to improve prenatal care for women with OUD and HCV
Researchers are exploring how pregnant women with opioid use disorder and hepatitis C, along with their clinicians, would like to receive care to improve outcomes for moms and babies.
-
Co-infection patterns of HIV, hepatitis C, and sexually transmitted infections among rural people who inject drugs during an HIV outbreak
A small, patient-focused study will look at how HIV, hepatitis C, and other sexually transmitted infections occur together in rural people who inject drugs during an HIV outbreak, and what factors relate to these co-infections.
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Low-threshold hepatitis C treatment in jail to help people released back to the community
A patient-friendly plan to test a simple, quick hepatitis C treatment in jail for people who use drugs, with care that continues after release.
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Precise, rapid HCV detection from blood at the point of care
Aiming to provide a fast, easy blood test to detect hepatitis C right where care is delivered.
-
Hepatitis C screening tool used in the Emergency Department
A new ED screening tool helps identify people at risk for hepatitis C so they can get diagnosed and treated sooner.
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.