Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, and the incidence of HCC has been rising in the United States and Europe over the past decade. Hepatitis B (HBV) and C virus (HCV) infections are a major risk factor for HCC, particularly in Western countries and Japan. Chronic hepatitis B virus infection affects more than 400 million people worldwide and results in more than 500,000 deaths annually from cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the U.S., over 1.25 million individuals suffer from Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB), and the prevalence is rising due to immigration from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Our research in the area of HBV includes:
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developing and applying mathematical models to the evaluation of the cost-effectiveness, externalities, and affordability of different hepatitis B vaccination programs in various settings, including the Gambia
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the most cost-effective first line therapy for treatment-naive patients
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determining the optimal sequence of antiviral agents to use for drug-resistant HBV patients.
Research work in the area of HCV control policy includes:
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modeling of co-infection with multiple viruses to examine such issues as the cost-effectiveness of hepatitis treatment in HIV-infected patients.
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partnering with a team from Boston University to conduct two cohort studies, funded by NIDA, to assess treatment outcomes in co-infected patients, and developing a more refined model for this high-risk population.
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Focusing current analyses on pressing hepatitis control questions in the U.S., Australia, Egypt, and Brazil.