Hepatitis Happenings and Updates
NASTAD Updates
NASTAD’s Hepatitis team is seeking technical assistance providers with viral hepatitis expertise to support the capabilities of viral hepatitis prevention and surveillance personnel at state, territorial, and major city/county health departments through a new national technical assistance center. This project is a joint effort between NASTAD and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for STLT Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce and the Division of Viral Hepatitis (DVH).
RFP Closing Date: October 31, 2024
Inquiries about this RFP are encouraged. If you have questions, please email hepatitisRFP@nastad.org no later than October 30, 2024. All responses will be posted publicly on the NASTAD RFP site.
New Resource: Managing Power Dynamics Within the Coalition
NASTAD has recently developed an appendix to the “Building a Coalition to Support Viral Hepatitis Elimination” toolkit, titled "Managing Power Dynamics Within the Coalition." The appendix outlines the different coalition structures and how viral hepatitis programs can equitably share power with community organizations, people with lived experience, and advocates. Additional resources are provided on conflict resolution and developing a power analysis to examine power dynamics within the coalition. This new resource builds on this foundation and continues to support viral hepatitis staff in developing lasting partnerships by further exploring the inherent power differences between health departments and community organizations and providing strategies to mitigate the negative consequences of these dynamics.
Updated Resource: Toolkit for Newer Viral Hepatitis Health Department Staff
The Newer Viral Hepatitis Health Department Staff Toolkit has been recently updated. The toolkit is designed for new viral hepatitis health department staff to help you get started in your new role, and includes basic information, recommendations, key national partners, CDC funding opportunities, and where to go for help.
NASTAD Membership Directory Update
We are updating our membership directory to include both viral hepatitis prevention and surveillance points of contact. Please provide the contact information for your jurisdiction here, and review the current directory here. Thank you!
VLC Recordings/Upcoming Sessions
Thank you to all of the presenters, moderators, and participants who made Year 3 of the VLC such a success! We are excited for the next iteration of the VLC. In the meantime please visit the VLC microsite for more information and to watch recordings from previous VLC sessions.
Hepatitis Policy Updates
FY2025 Appropriations
On September 25, lawmakers passed a bipartisan continuing resolution (CR) (H.R.9747) that temporarily extends Fiscal Year 2024 funding levels through December 20. The stopgap funding measure averted a government shutdown on the October 1 start of Fiscal Year 2025 (FY2025) and extends the funding deadline until after the November general elections, buying appropriators more time to reach a deal on the FY2025 spending package while avoiding the larger backdrop of the election. President Biden signed the CR on September 26. Congress is now on recess through November 12.
HHS Issues RFI to Inform 2026-2030 National HIV/AIDS Strategy and Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan
On October 7, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a request for information (RFI) soliciting feedback from stakeholders regarding the development of the 2026-2030 National HIV/AIDS Strategy, Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan, Vaccines National Strategic Plan for the United States, and Sexually Transmitted Infections National Strategic Plan for the United States. The strategic plans serve as national roadmaps to guide efforts to address HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STI), and viral hepatitis, and to improve and enhance the development and use of vaccines in the United States. Comments are due by December 6, 2024.
FDA Proposed Downclassifying HBV Diagnostic Assays
On September 25, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a proposed rule that would reclassify certain hepatitis B virus (HBV) diagnostic assays from class III to class II devices. Down classifying HBV diagnostic assays would allow test manufacturers to seek marketing clearance through the less burdensome premarket notification (510(k)) pathway rather than submitting a premarket approval application (PMA), the most stringent type of FDA medical device review. The down classification of HBV assays follows the down classification of HCV assays in November 2021. Comments are due by November 25, 2024.
Additional Updates
Hepatitis National Network for Education and Testing (HepNET)
Formed through a partnership between NASTAD, NVHR and NACCHO, the Hepatitis Network for Education and Testing (HepNET) is a collaborative initiative dedicated to advancing racial justice and health equity in viral hepatitis care, with a focus on people who use drugs. Click here to become a member completely free! Members get access to HepNET's resource warehouse, webinars and events, invitations, technical assistance opportunities, and the chance to participate in HepNET's learning communities.
Partner Updates
Liver Cancer Awareness Month
During this month, CDC and partners are highlighting the burden of liver cancer in the United States and raising awareness about the link to hepatitis B and C. Here are some resources from partner organizations to promote this month:
- Hepatitis B Foundation: Liver Cancer Awareness Month Media Toolkit
- American Liver Foundation
- CDC: Liver Cancer Basics
- Global Liver Institute Toolkit
National Hispanic Heritage Month Resources from HepVu
Every year Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 to October 15. HepVu has developed resources specifically on Hispanic/Latinx/é communities and hepatitis to raise awareness about the disproportionate impact and barriers faced by this community. More information and resources can be found in English and in Spanish.
Resources
New University of Washington Hepatitis B and C Online Content
- Hepatitis B (HBV) ReactivationMini-Lecture. Presenter: Dr. H. Nina Kim, UW Professor of Medicine
- Top 5 Questions: Hepatitis B Vaccination of AdultsMini-Lecture. Presenter: Dr. Kelly Moore, President & CEO of Immunize.org
- HBV prophylaxis for isolated anti-HBc patients receiving high risk immunosuppressionClinical Challenge.
- Management of patients with uncertain hepatitis B vaccination statusClinical Challenge.
- Updated epidemiology information added to HBV Epidemiologylesson
- HCC screening in stage 3 fibrosisClinical Challenge.
- Work on the new HCV Test and Cure Module is nearing completion. Learners who complete the five lessons and pass the assessment will earn an HCV Test and Cure Training Certificate.
Completed with support from SAMHSA and the Opioid Response Network, this document presents first-hand narratives, research, and recommendations to understand and explore housing provision as a comprehensive health and overdose prevention strategy. The resource can be used as a series of topic-specific guidance documents or as an overview of person-centered approaches to housing, drug user health, and HIV care.
Upcoming Webinars, Meetings, & Events
Upcoming Webinars
A Breakthrough in HCV Elimination: How HCV Point-of-Care RNA Testing Came to the United States | October 24, 2024 at 1 PM ET
Join Francis Collins, Bruce Tromberg, Eric Lai, and Ines Garcia to learn how government agencies worked together to fast-track the approval of HCV point-of-care PCR testing in the US, and what this means for HCV elimination going forward. Register here.
Unpacking the New HBV Case Definitions | November 19, 2024 at 3 PM ET
This session will feature the CDC and they will discuss the new CSTE hepatitis B case definitions and its impact on jurisdictions' surveillance efforts. Register here.
Archived Webinars
- HepNET LLE Webinars: Bridging the Divide: Exploring Friendship, Allyship, and the Complexities and Nuance of Black and White Women's Relationships in Harm Reduction (YouTube) and Culture Shift: Applying Lived Experiences and Advocacy to Hep C Treatment Programs (YouTube)
- HepVu: New Hepatitis C Prevalence Updates Webinar
- Hep B United: Data to Action: Transforming Insights Into Action (YouTube)
- Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination: Hepatitis C in the Context of Drug Use; State-of-the-Art Diagnostic and Pathogenic Effort
- INHSU: Strategies towards hepatitis C elimination in the US (YouTube)
Recurring Meetings
CSTE Viral Hepatitis Subcommittee Meetings | First Thursday, every other month at 3 PM ET
The Viral Hepatitis Subcommittee holds regular conference calls and webinars to discuss current issues and overarching topics related to viral hepatitis surveillance, such as best practices and lessons learned across jurisdictions, policy around viral hepatitis surveillance, and analyzing viral hepatitis data. For more information, click here.
Conferences/Events (National & Local)
2024 Northeast Regional Epidemiology Conference
November 7-8, 2024 | Atlantic City, NJ | Registration
Northeast Regional Epidemiology Conference (NEEPI), which is a regional public health conference focusing on epidemiology initiatives, responses, and partnerships. The nine participating states are Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Additional information and registration can be found here.
The Liver Meeting
November 15-19, 2024 | San Diego, CA | Registration
Be a part of the global hepatology community at The Liver Meeting. Register now to access sessions led by renowned experts, collaborate with international peers at an inclusive event that brings the world of hepatology together.
19th Global Hepatitis Summit
March 18-21, 2025 | Los Angeles, CA | Registration
GHS 2025 will be as much a networking event as a cutting-edge research conference, featuring dedicated tracks for health practitioners and inspiring workshops for those working in the liver and hepatitis space, where renown speakers will highlight the most exciting recent results in the field and provide perspectives for research and patient management. Abstract submissions are now open for Global Hepatitis Summit until October 30, 2024. More information about the Summit can be found here.
2025 National Latinx Conference on HIV/HCV/ SUD
April 29 - May 1, 2025 | Las Vegas, NV | Registration
The NaLa Conference previously known as the National Latinx Conference on HIV/HCV/SUD aims to provide Healthcare and Social Service Providers with innovative concepts, best practices, and new information on how to better serve Latinx communities. Our workshops will cover a wide range of topics essential to all healthcare providers and practitioners who serve the Latinx community. The aim is to provide effective treatment and consultations with the overall goal of improving patient health outcomes. Our target audience are all practicing physicians, nurses and non physicians which include case managers, social workers, community health workers, support staff, linkage specialist and administration. Register here.
Jobs, Fellowships, and Funding Opportunities
Relink: Request for Proposals
The objective of the ReLink program is to provide grants to find diagnosed-but-untreated HCV and HBV infected individuals and help them get linked to care. Proposals are due by November 1, 2024 at 11:59 PM MT. More information can be found here.
2024-2025 Vu Fellowship
Vu is focusing on empowering new voices by offering up to four fellowship opportunities for researchers in the viral hepatitis and HIV spaces. Each fellow will be awarded a $5,000 personal stipend to conduct a research project related to HIV, Hepatitis C, or both, using data on AIDSVu and/or HepVu, along with other data sources. Applications should be submitted to info@aidsvu.org by October 31, 2024 at 5 pm ET. More information can be found here.
Publications
Liver Cancer Screening Post-Hep C Cure Improves Survival
Eliminating perinatal transmission of hepatitis B virus: it is time for action