Quick clinic test to find active hepatitis C and prevent liver cancer
Active HCV diagnosis to support prevention of HCC in LMICs
A rapid, clinic-friendly blood test to find people with ongoing hepatitis C so they can get curative treatment and lower their risk of liver cancer.
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 ID | NIH-11384971 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are developing a single-step, point-of-care blood test on the DASH platform that detects active hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection rather than just antibodies. They will compare the device's results to standard laboratory viral load tests using blood samples and run the device in clinics in Nigeria and similar low- and middle-income settings. The team will measure how accurate the test is, how easy it is for clinic staff to use, and whether people who test positive get linked to treatment. The aim is to make diagnosis faster and simpler so more people start curative therapy and avoid long-term liver damage or cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (age 21 and older) in participating clinics—especially those who screen positive for HCV antibodies or have risk factors for hepatitis C—would be ideal candidates to provide a blood sample for the test.
Not a fit: People without hepatitis C, those already cured of HCV, children under 21, or individuals unable to give a blood sample are unlikely to benefit directly from this diagnostic effort.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could speed up confirmation of active hepatitis C so more people start curative antivirals and reduce hepatitis C-related liver cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Point-of-care molecular tests for HCV have shown promise in trials but remain limited in many low-resource settings, and this project applies that approach to a new device and field settings.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcfall, Sally Maureen — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Mcfall, Sally Maureen
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.