Our Accomplishments
The Hepatitis B Foundation has made tremendous strides forward in advancing our Cause for a Cure.
2011
Hepatitis B Foundation Celebrates 20th Anniversary
Watch the short YouTube video that captures the 20 year history of the Hepatitis B Foundation through old photos and interviews with the founders and Nobel Laureate Dr. Baruch Blumberg. View now!
2010
- Groundbreaking for nine new labs to accommodate the success of research entrepreneurs and a teaching lab for young scientists occurred in June.
- HBF was part of the IOM Report on “Hepatitis and Liver Cancer” from inception to fruition by providing testimony and having three of our medical advisors play a major role in this landmark report that set the stage for how the US will manage HBV and liver cancer in the next decade.
- HBF was at the forefront in working with Congressional members to advocate for HR 3974, the Hepatitis and Liver Cancer Prevention and Control Act 2009, a comprehensive bill that addresses the needs of more than five million Americans living with chronic hepatitis B.
2009
- The highly competitive GSK IMPACT Award and $40,000 cash prize was awarded to the HBF for its comprehensive Outreach Program that helps improve access to care.
- John Ellis, a 17-year old cyclist from Florida took his devastating diagnosis of hepatitis B and turned it into an awareness campaign with his Believe in the Cure Cycling Tour of 1,287 miles from Pensacola to Philadelphia and raised $50,000 towards a cure!
- HBF convened the first National Pediatric Hepatitis B Workshop gathering an expert panel of pediatric liver specialists to discuss the management of children with chronic hepatitis B. Recommendations were published October 5, 2009 in Pediatrics.
2008
- HBF organized a historic Library of Congress Symposium on HIV and HBV during National Hepatitis B Awareness Week to address the challenges in HIV vaccine development.
- Dr. Andy Cuconati, head of HBF’s Drug Discovery Program discovered a new compound that specifically suppresses release of HBV from infected liver cells.
- The Gateway to Care and the Philadelphia Task Force on Hepatitis B was launched to improve access to care through education and free screenings.
2007
- HBF becomes sponsor of International HBV Meeting.
- HBF High School Science Enrichment Program is established.
2006
- HBF opens its new Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center of Bucks County, created and owned in partnership with Delaware Valley College.
2005
- HBF provides impetus for historic advocacy successes: First-ever National HBV Act introduced in Congress; first Congressional Briefing on HBV; and first National HBV Awareness Week in May called for by Congress.
2004
- HBF establishes the Institute for Hepatitis and Virus Research, which houses the HBF labs.
- HBF and University of Oxford Training Program is created - one of the first of its kind in the United States.
- Drexel University becomes the new academic partner of the HBF.
2003
- Pennsylvania Governor Mark Schweiker presents a check for $7.9 million to HBF and Delaware Valley College to build a biotechnology research complex.
- HBF becomes a charter member of the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable in Washington, D.C.
2002
- HBF receives a $400,000 National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant to fund a total reconstruction of its website - www.hepb.org.
2001
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| HBF Co-Founders Still Working Together(2001)
The past ten years have only strengthened the commitment of the HBF Founders! L to R: Tim Block, Jan Witte, Paul Witte, and Joan Block. |
- HBF celebrates our 10th Anniversary!
2000
- The "Bruce Witte Research Fellowship" is established to fund a young scientist pursuing hepatitis B research.
- College summer research internship program is established
- 6th annual Princeton Workshop identifies "National Research Priorities for hepatitis B".
1999
- $1.5 million PA state grant is received to support HBF outreach efforts, promote hepatitis research, and to conduct statewide viral hepatitis trainings.
1998
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| PA Governor Ridge Proclaims Hepatitis Awareness Month (1997) |
- HBF offices and labs move under one roof to the new Jefferson Center for Biomedical Research, Doylestown, PA
1997
- HBF outreach campaign results in PA Governor Tom Ridge declaring the first Hepatitis Awareness Month.
- O'Liver, the HBF liver mascot, makes its debut in a televised press conference on the Capitol in Harrisburg, PA
- HBF partners with Jefferson Medical College and Delaware Valley College to help establish a new research center in Doylestown, PA
Scientific Leaders Attend First Princeton Workshop (1995)
Sitting L to R: P. Marion, T. Block, J. Hoofnagle, F. Chisari, W. T. London,
C. Rogler Standing L to R: D. Averett, D. Standring,
C. Seeger, P. Cote, B. Gu, D. Ganem, R. Boehme, J. Summers,
H. Isom, W. Mason, W. Gerlich, C. Young, J. O'Connell, R.
Lanfod, B. Rennant (missing from photo: N. Brown,
L. Johnson, J. Pugh, M. Roggendorf, L. Tyrrell.)
1996
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First HBF Gala Honors Distinguished Leaders (1996) |
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Pa. Governor Ridge
Proclaims Hepatitis Awareness Month (1997) |
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Hepatitis B Foundation Lab Opens (1994) |
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New Hepatitis B
Drug Discovered (1993) |
- The first official HBF office is opened in Jenkintown, PA
- HBF goes on-line, creates a website (www.hepb.org) and is flooded with e-mails from around the world.
- Many new educational materials are developed to respond to the increasing requests for information.
- HBF advocacy efforts result in PA legislature passing Act 15 that adds the hepatitis B vaccine to the list of immunizations required for school entry.
1995
- HBF invites 25 of the nation's leading scientists and clinicians to participate in the first Princeton Workshop, which is focused on hepatitis B therapeutic research.
- HBF reports that lamivudine is a promising new oral drug against hepatitis B.
1994
- The HBF Research Lab is established at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA.
1993
- A PA state grant is received to produce two Emmy-nominated television Public Service Announcements to promote hepatitis B awareness.
- Drs. Timothy Block, Baruch Blumberg, and Raymond Dwek discover a new anti-HBV drug< at Oxford University.
1992
- A PA state grant received to produce HBF video, "Someone You Know Has Hepatitis B", which includes an introduction by Dr. Nancy Snyderman of Good Morning America.
- The B Informed Newsletter is launched.
1991
- HBF incorporates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
- First public HBF fundraiser in New Hope, PA raises $17,000.
- PA State Senator Jim Greenwood introduces the Hepatitis B Prevention, Research and Treatment Act into legislature.
- HBF reports that interferon alpha, an injectable drug, shows promise against hepatitis B.
