Advancing the health of people who use drugs: hepatitis C and drug dependence (ASCEND)
June 2019
Staff:
Professor Michael Farrell
Scientia Professor Louisa Degenhardt
Dr Sarah Larney
Dr Briony Larance
Ms Marianne Byrne
Other investigators:
Gregory Dore, Head Viral Hepatitis Clinical Research Program, Kirby Institute UNSW
Andrew Lloyd, Head Viral Immunology Systems Program, Kirby Institute UNSW
Jason Grebely, Senior Research Fellow, Viral Hepatitis Clinical Research Program, Kirby Institute, UNSW
Matthew Hickman, Head, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol
Michael Houghton, Director, Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute
Andrea Cox, Professor of Medicine and Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Fabio Luciani, NHMRC Career Development Fellow, Viral Immunology Systems Program, Kirby Institute, UNSW
Rowena Bull, NHMRC Career Development Fellow, Viral Immunology Systems Program, Kirby Institute, UNSW
Rebecca McKetin, Senior Research Fellow, National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University
Adrian Dunlop, Clinical Director, Hunter New England Alcohol and Drug Treatment Programme
Project description:
The ASCEND program aims to:
- Characterise morbidity and mortality among people with problematic drug use;
- Enhance the effectiveness of drug dependence management;
- Evaluate strategies to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among people who inject drugs; and
- Monitor trends in drug dependence and HCV burden in Australia.
The Investigators are undertaking a five-year program grant seeking to enhance collaboration and bring together disciplines of viral hepatitis and drug dependence for mutual benefit.
Read more on the NDARC website.
