Rapid test to detect active hepatitis C and help prevent liver cancer in low-resource countries
Active HCV diagnosis to support prevention of HCC in LMICs
A new rapid hepatitis C viral test for adults in low- and middle-income countries will find active infections quickly so people can get treatment and reduce the 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-11384973 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I join, the team will develop and validate a single-step point-of-care test that detects active hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA using small blood samples. They will compare the new DASH™ platform test against standard laboratory viral load tests to confirm accuracy. The work will include participants and/or samples from clinics in Nigeria and similar low- and middle-income settings to make sure the test works where laboratory testing is limited. The goal is to make diagnosis faster so people who need HCV treatment can be linked to care sooner.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) who screen positive for hepatitis C antibodies or who are at risk for HCV and can attend participating clinics in the study regions are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Children under 21, people without evidence of HCV exposure, and anyone unable to access participating clinics are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable faster on-site diagnosis of active hepatitis C and quicker treatment to lower the chance of cirrhosis and liver cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Other point-of-care and near-patient HCV viral load tests have shown promise in speeding diagnosis and treatment linkage, but fully single-step RNA tests for low-resource settings remain relatively new.
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.