Ending hepatitis C and tracking fatty liver disease in people who inject drugs with and without HIV
Elimination of HCV and emergence of steatotic liver disease among people who inject drugs living with and without HIV
This project looks at why hepatitis C keeps spreading and how fatty (steatotic) liver disease is affecting people who inject drugs, including those living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11328441 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join an ongoing Baltimore-based effort that follows people who inject drugs to watch for new hepatitis C infections, treatments received, and changes in liver health over time. Researchers collect medical records, blood samples, and interview information to find what drives new infections and who develops fatty liver disease. The team compares people with and without HIV to see how HIV affects liver disease risk and outcomes. The goal is to use these findings to inform local and national actions to prevent infections and improve liver care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults who currently or previously inject drugs in the Baltimore area, whether or not they have HIV or past hepatitis C.
Not a fit: People who do not inject drugs, live outside the study area, or have no history of hepatitis C or HIV are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help stop hepatitis C spread in communities of people who inject drugs and improve detection and care for fatty liver disease, especially for people with HIV.
How similar studies have performed: Curative hepatitis C treatments have cured many individuals and reduced cirrhosis, but community-level elimination has not been achieved and studies of fatty liver disease in people who inject drugs are still emerging.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thomas, David L — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Thomas, David L
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 below.