Quick detection of Hepatitis C virus using advanced technology
Official title: Rapid point of care Hepatitis C virus detection using a long-lasting luminescent cascade signal amplification
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11025330 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a quick and easy test to help find Hepatitis C infections, especially for people in underserved communities like American Indians and Alaska Natives, so they can get the treatment they need sooner.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | November 22, 2024 |
| Project end | October 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $884,453 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI187513-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11025330 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals at risk for Hepatitis C, particularly those from American Indian and Alaska Native populations.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are already diagnosed and receiving treatment for Hepatitis C may not benefit directly from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a rapid point-of-care test for detecting Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, which is crucial for timely treatment. The approach utilizes a long-lasting luminescent cascade signal amplification method to enhance the sensitivity and specificity of HCV antigen detection. By streamlining the testing process, the research aims to improve diagnosis rates, particularly in underserved populations such as American Indians and Alaska Natives. The goal is to facilitate early detection and management of HCV, ultimately reducing the burden of the disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to faster and more accurate diagnosis of Hepatitis C, improving treatment outcomes for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in rapid point-of-care testing for other infectious diseases, indicating potential success for this novel approach in HCV detection.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shafiee, Hadi — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Shafiee, Hadi
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.