Eliminating Chronic Viral Infections
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects 115 million people worldwide, 2.3 million of whom are co-infected with HIV. Of the 70,000 Canadians who are living with HIV, about a quarter also have HCV. These infections disproportionately affect disenfranchised populations, and are taking a toll on Canada’s Indigenous communities.
HIV treatments dramatically increase life expectancy and prevent new infections, and new HCV treatments can cure chronic viral infections. But treatment alone is not enough: greater awareness, testing and prevention are the keys to eliminating these infections. Overcoming the health inequalities that vulnerable populations experience requires effective, equitable and culturally supportive health care.
Dr. Marina Klein’s research program builds on years of multidisciplinary work leading one of the world’s largest studies of HIV and HCV co-infection. As Canada Research Chair in Clinical and Epidemiologic Studies of Chronic Viral Infections in Vulnerable Populations, she is documenting the impact of these new therapies on health outcomes. She is also designing and testing tailored approaches to increase access to diagnosis and treatment, building capacity for research with Indigenous communities, and using evidence to advocate for policy change.
The lessons Klein and her research team are learning about the challenges of delivering HCV care to marginalized populations have the potential to shape Canada’s response to the HCV epidemic. Her ultimate goal is to pave the way to eliminating HCV and other chronic viral infections in Canada and globally.