ACIP review of the hepatitis B birth dose vaccination remains a grave concern - Please read more here.

Site Search

You searched for "hepatitis D"

  • CHIPO Partner Highlight: Hepatitis Outreach Network

    … model to a wider audience would be a significant step forward in addressing viral hepatitis disparities in our community.  Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me today and for sharing more about the great work HONE has done and will continue into the future! 

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/chipo-partner-highlight-hepatitis-outreach-network/
  • Celebrating Liver Cancer Awareness Month: A Conversation with the American Liver Foundation

    … launched a program called Project ECHO for medical professionals and providers to learn more about MASLD, or fatty liver disease, and we're going to continue that the rest of this year, every month, and continue it hopefully in 2025. And of course, programs for advocacy and information for patients, including educating patients and their families by creating public awareness campaigns about liver wellness and disease prevention, are our focus. I currently oversee a few different initiatives. One of them is our liver cancer initiatives which include a two-day liver cancer conference that we've held since 2020, called the Educated Patient for patients and caregivers. This year we're trying something new where we are focusing on a liver cancer series that we actually kicked off in September, specifically for pediatric liver cancer, because September was Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month. In October, we actually have two programs that will be happening for liver cancer and then we have one that will be ending in November. The other couple programs that I've overseen include our Rare Liver Disease Summit, our autoimmune forum, and our pediatric initiatives. I also oversee some of our collaborations with the Center for Disease Control Viral Hepatitis Division. I have worked with them for the last three or four years on programs, including hepatitis C barriers to treatment in community-focused primary care. Is there anything in particular or maybe a couple of things that you enjoy most about your work? I really enjoy working with the partners, and our partner organizations. Hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and other liver diseases affect so many people, especially in diverse communities and that's also something that I'm glad that we have had the opportunity to focus on that under our CEO Lorraine Stiehl, who's made that a priority. Liver disease, of course, affects so many different people and to be intentional about making sure that we focus on these particular groups where

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/celebrating-liver-cancer-awareness-month-conversation-american-liver-foundation/
  • Storyteller Insights: Cosmin's Story

    … wanted. In addition to my mother’s health issues, I faced a tried period while undergoing medical tests for hepatitis B and later for hepatitis Delta, receiving results that didn’t provide the reassurance I had hoped for.  Shortly thereafter, I embarked on another chapter in my medical journey, another two years of Interferon treatment. Those were arduous times, marked by physical and emotional trials. Through it all, my wife remained my unwavering pillar of strength. Her support was a beacon of light in the darkness that seemed to loom. During that time, our sweet girl was quite young, and I am certain it must have been a challenging time for my wife. Sincerely, the weight of the situation often overwhelmed me.    Behind the backdrop of these challenging events, my mother remained a beacon of optimism. Despite her health problems and the relentless complications that plagued her, she carried herself with unwavering hope. Sadly, at the tender age of 49, my mother left this world, leaving me with a plethora of unanswered questions. This sad moment with my mother happened a few months after I completed interferon treatment.  In the aftermath of those challenging times, a dormant dream from my childhood began to stir within me. I summoned the courage to reconnect with the aspirations that had been shelved for so long. It was a journey into the depths of my own emotions, and it led me to a profound realization. I decided to embark on a path that related to my heart—a journey into the field of hepatitis B. It was a choice fueled by empathy, born from my own trials and the desire to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others facing similar struggles. In this newfound purpose, I unearthed not just my cherished childhood dream but also a profound calling. It's a path that allows me to pay tribute to my past and to perpetuate the strength and empathy that have been the pillars of my personal journey.  In 2019, I made the decision to launch an initiative,

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/storyteller-insights-cosmins-story/
  • New CDC Universal Screening Recommendations will save lives, Hepatitis B Foundation president says

    The recommendations call for all adults ages 18 and older to be tested for hepatitis B. Doylestown, Pa., March 9, 2023 – New guidance released today by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that recommend testing of all adults ages 18 and older will save lives, ultimately, says Hepatitis B Foundation President Chari A. Cohen, DrPH, MPH. The CDC will publish its Universal Adult Hepatitis B Screening Recommendations in the March 10 edition of its influential Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). A preview was posted today (March 9) on the CDC website here. “The Hepatitis B Foundation is grateful for the advocacy work on this issue by our Hep B United Coalition partners, the many individual advocates nationwide who have been engaged on this issue and the Congressional Hepatitis Caucus, which has been very supportive over the years of hepatitis B initiatives and decreasing HBV-related disparities,” Dr. Cohen said. For years, the Hepatitis B Foundation has advocated that universal screening is essential to successfully addressing hepatitis B in the U.S. Our team will continue advocacy efforts to encourage the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to align with CDC’s final recommendation. The Hepatitis B Foundation is developing a comprehensive communications program, including a detailed white paper and a social media tool kit, to help ensure that physicians, other health care providers and public health profession nationwide learn about the new recommendations. A webinar for providers, through the Hep B United coalition, has been scheduled for March 27 at 4 p.m. EDT. The webinar will address what the recommendations will mean for providers and how implementation of universal screening and vaccination will look. The speakers will include CDC representatives and Dr. Robert Gish, medical director of the Hepatitis B Foundation. Registration for the webinar is online here. Previous guidelines in the U.S. were based on a person’s risk factors, which was stigmatizing, inefficient and burdensome to providers and patients. It’s important to note that about two-thirds of Americans with hepatitis B have no identified risk factors for the disease, so previous recommendations were missing a large portion of those infected. The new recommendation calls for all adults to be screening using the hepatitis B triple panel (hepatitis B surface antigen, hep B surface antibody and hep B core antibody). The triple panel is preferred because it provides a comprehensive view of a person’s hepatitis B status and alerts the provider as to the necessary next steps, including vaccination for susceptible individuals or linkage to care for those infected. In the U.S., up to 2.4 million people are chronically infected, yet only 25% of those individuals know they are infected. Without diagnosis and appropriate care and treatment, people with chronic hepatitis B are at significantly increased risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer. Hepatitis B cases in the U.S. have been rising in recent years – up 11% between 2014 and 2018 – largely due to the opioid epidemic. The disease is one of the primary causes of liver cancer, the fastest-growing cancer in the U.S., and a leading cause of cirrhosis. Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and African Immigrants continue to be disproportionately impacted by hepatitis B and liver cancer. From 2003-2017, it was the second most common cause of cancer deaths in Asian American and Pacific Islander males. Asians and Black Americans living with HBV have an 11-fold risk of developing primary liver cancer in comparison to white Americans. The U.S. is on the path to eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030. Combined with universal vaccination for all adults 19-59, the new screening guidelines are a significant step towards reducing health disparities, reducing new hepatitis B infections, and working towards elimination. About hepatitis B: The world’s most common serious liver infection, chronic hepatitis B is caused by a virus that attacks and injures the liver. Each year up to 1 million people die from hepatitis B worldwide, even though it is preventable and treatable. Hepatitis B is a “silent epidemic” because most people do not have symptoms when they are newly or chronically infected. Thus, they can unknowingly infect others and continue the spread of hepatitis B. For people who are chronically infected but don’t have any symptoms, their livers are still being silently damaged, which can develop into serious liver disease such as cirrhosis or liver cancer. About the Hepatitis B Foundation: As the nation’s leading hepatitis B advocacy and research organization, the Hepatitis B Foundation is one of the most active proponents of improving hepatitis B screening, prevention and treatment of the disease. We are the nation’s leading nonprofit organization solely dedicated to finding a cure for hepatitis B and improving the quality of life for those affected worldwide through research, education and patient advocacy. Founded in 1991, the Hepatitis B Foundation is based in Doylestown, Pa., with offices in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. To learn more, go to www.hepb.org, read our blog at hepb.org/blog, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@hepbfoundation) or call us at 215-489-4900. To donate, contact Jean Holmes at 215-489-4900 or jean.holmes@hepb.org

    https://www.hepb.org/news-and-events/news-2/new-cdc-universal-screening-recommendations-will-save-lives-hepatitis-b-foundation-president-says/
  • Action Alert! Urge Your House Representative To Support Increased Hepatitis B and C Funding!

    … contacting Helen Beaudreau in Representative Honda’s office or Scott Goldstein in Representative Johnson’s office. Text of "Dear Colleague" letter: The Honorable Tom Cole Chairman Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services United States House Washington, D.C., 20515 The Honorable Rosa DeLauro Ranking Member Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services United States House Washington, D.C., 20515 Dear Chairman Cole and Ranking Member DeLauro: As you begin deliberations on the Fiscal Year 2016 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, we respectfully request that you allocate $62.8 million for the Division of Viral Hepatitis (DVH) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), consistent with the President’s FY2016 budget request and an increase of $31.5 million over the FY2015 level. The CDC’s 2010 professional judgment (PJ) budget recommended $90.8 million annually from FY2011-FY2013, $170.3 million annually from FY2014-FY2017, and $306.3 million annually from FY2018-FY2020 in order for DVH to comprehensively address the viral hepatitis epidemics. While past increases have been helpful, these have only been small steps toward building a more comprehensive response to viral hepatitis. Our recommendation of $62.8 million is in line with the needs determined by the PJ and the goals of the Viral Hepatitis Action Plan, but pales in comparison to the CDC’s PJ. T

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/viral-hepatitis-action-alert-3/
  • Anonymous donor provides record gift for hepatitis B research

    The contribution will support two innovative research projects aimed at finding a cure for hepatitis B. Doylestown, Pa., Jan. 13, 2022 – A very generous Florida couple who wishes to remain anonymous has contributed $500,000 to the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, the research arm of the Hepatitis B Foundation, to advance research toward a cure for hepatitis B, the most common serious liver infection in the world. The gift is the largest in the organization’s history. The funds will enable Blumberg Institute researchers, led by Ju-Tao Guo, MD, vice president for research and W. Thomas London Professor, to pursue new strategies to cure hepatitis B.   Ju-Tao Guo, MD One strategy uses gene editing and mRNA; the other targets the viral surface antigen using a novel screening technique. “Both strategies are unique and should go a long way in opening up an entirely new way to treat chronic hepatitis B,” said Timothy M. Block, PhD, president and co-founder of the Hepatitis B Foundation and Blumberg Institute, who is involved closely with the research projects. “This is the kind of innovation that is needed for there to be a cure for hepatitis B.” When the donor first contacted the Hepatitis B Foundation last summer, his phone call to the Foundation’s Helpline went, simply by chance, to Chari Cohen, DrPH, MPH, the Foundation’s senior vice president and incoming president as of this July. Their productive conversation was the first of many leading the record-setting contribution. The donor expressed interest in progress toward a cure for hepatitis B. After learning details about the Blumberg Institute’s research program, he concluded that the Institute is the best place to invest in scientific efforts focused on curing the disease. “This wonderfully generous support is making possible some very promising research on a cure, and the Foundation and entire hepatitis B community are extremely grateful,” Dr. Cohen said. About Hepatitis B: Caused by the hepatitis B virus, the disease attacks and injures the liver. Each year up to 1 million people die from hepatitis B worldwide, even though it is preventable and treatable. The number of adults living in the U.S. who have chronic hepatitis B infection may be as high as 2.4 million, which is nearly three times greater than the federal government’s official estimate, according to a new report by a team of public health experts, scientists and physicians. Hepatitis B is a “silent epidemic” because most people do not have symptoms when they are newly or chronically infected. Thus, they can unknowingly infect others and continue the spread of hepatitis B. For people who are chronically infected but don’t have any symptoms, their livers are still being silently damaged, which can develop into serious liver disease such as cirrhosis or liver cancer. About the Hepatitis B Foundation: We are the nation’s leading nonprofit organization solely dedicated to finding a cure for hepatitis B and improving the quality of life for those affected worldwide through research, education and patient advocacy. Founded in 1991, the Hepatitis B Foundation is based in Doylestown, Pa., with an office in Washington, D.C. To learn more, go to www.hepb.org and www.hepb30years.org, read our blog at hepb.org/blog, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@hepbfoundation) or call us at 215-489-4900. To donate, contact Jean Holmes at 215-489-4900 or jean.holmes@hepb.org.  

    https://www.hepb.org/news-and-events/news-2/anonymous-donor-provides-record-gift-for-hepatitis-b-research/
  • Hepatitis B Foundation mourns the passing of John C. Martin, pharmaceutical industry leader

    The former CEO of Gilead, Martin personally was committed to addressing the problem of hepatitis B. Doylestown, April 1, 2021 – The leadership and staff of the Hepatitis B Foundation share a high regard for John C. Martin, PhD, former CEO of Gilead Sciences Inc., who died suddenly this week. Best known for his leadership at Gilead in providing the first effective treatment for HIV, Dr. Martin also headed the company as it conducted groundbreaking work aimed at a treatment for hepatitis B, which currently affects about 2.4 million U.S. residents. Gilead also is the producer of curative therapies for hepatitis C. Dr. Martin, a chemist, came to the Hepatitis B Foundation in 2019 to deliver the Foundation’s annual Bruce Witte Lecture, according to Timothy M. Block, PhD, president and CEO of the Foundation. Dr. Block, his wife Joan, and Janine and Paul Witte created the Foundation in 1991.  Dr. Martin (left) and Dr. Block “Dr. Martin expressed his personal commitment to help in preventing and treating hepatitis B to Joan and me on a number of occasions,” Dr. Block said. “He understood the terrible impact that the disease has around the world, and he knew that his company was a key contributor in the fight against the disease.” “On behalf of Joan and myself and everyone at the Foundation, we extend our condolences and best wishes to the Martin family,” Dr. Block added. # # # About Hepatitis B A very recent publication by Dr. Block and a team of public health experts, scientists and physicians shows that the number of people living in the U.S. who have a chronic hepatitis B infection may be as high as 2.4 million, significantly greater than the generally accepted estimate of 2.2 million in 2011. Worldwide, as many as 300 million people or more may be living with hepatitis B. About 884,000 people die each year from hepatitis B and complications, primarily liver cancer. There are more statistics and sources at www.hepb.org.

    https://www.hepb.org/news-and-events/news-2/hepatitis-b-foundation-mourns-the-passing-of-john-c-martin-pharmaceutical-industry-leader/
  • Viral Hepatitis Action Alert!

    Representatives Mike Honda, Hank Johnson, and Judy Chu are asking all House Representatives to sign an important letter supporting increased funding for viral hepatitis programs in the Fiscal Year 2015 appropriations bill (see text of letter below) Please take a few minutes before March 25th to call your House Representative’s office in Washington, DC and ask/him to sign this letter. You can reach your Representative through the Congressional Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Ask to be connected to your Representative. Once you are connected to the office, ask to speak to the staff person who handles health care issues. Whether you speak to that person live or leave a voicemail, tell them (1) your name, (2) where you live and that you are a constituent, (3) that you would like the Representative to sign the “Dear Colleague” letter from Representatives Honda, Johnson, and Chu supporting increased funding for viral hepatitis and (4) a brief message why this issue is important to you. Tell them they can sign the letter by contacting Kelly Honda in Representative Honda’s office, Scott Goldstein in Representative Johnson’s office, or Linda Shim in Representative Chu’s office. The deadline for Representatives to sign is March 25th. Text of “Dear Colleague” letter from Representatives Honda, Johnson, and Chu: Support Funding for Viral Hepatitis March XX, 2014 The Honorable Jack Kingston Chairman Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services United States House Washington, D.C., 20515 The Honorable Rosa DeLauro Ranking Member Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services United States House Washington, D.C., 20515 Dear Chairman Kingston and Ranking Member DeLauro: As you begin deliberations on the Fiscal Year 2015 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, we would like to respectfully request that you allocate $47.8 million for the Division of Viral Hepatitis (DVH) at the Centers for Disease Control and

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/viral-hepatitis-action-alert-2/
  • Hepatitis B Foundation co-founders chosen for major new award from the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases

    Joan and Tim Block to be honored for their advocacy on behalf of people living with hepatitis B. Doylestown, Pa., Nov. 12, 2020 – Hepatitis B Foundation co-founders Joan Block, R.N., and Timothy M. Block, Ph.D., will receive a very significant honor on Nov. 14 during The Liver Meeting, which is the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD). You can watch a video recording of the presentation here, courtesy of the AASLD. AASLD is the leading organization of scientists and health care professionals committed to preventing and curing liver disease. The Blocks will receive the AASLD’s inaugural Distinguished Advocacy Service Award, which “recognizes service provided to the hepatology community over an extended period that raises awareness or garners public and federal legislative support and promotes liver health and quality patient care.” The award was conceived last year by T. Jake Liang, M.D., chief of the Liver Diseases Branch, National Institutes of Health, who will be presenting the award. “The Hepatitis B Foundation has grown from a one-person crusade to a well-funded multi-tier organization with a large staff and deep influence in the advocacy community,” Dr. Liang wrote in his nominating letter. “The Foundation has effectively represented and advocated for patients with chronic hepatitis B and raised prominent awareness of the disease by implementing innovative educational, patient-oriented, community-based and public health programs.” Harvey Alter, M.D., who recently was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology for 2020 with Charles Rice, Ph.D., and Michael Houghton, Ph.D., was one of the many leaders in the field of hepatology who sent in congratulatory messages for the ceremony. “Tim, despite his humble nature, is a scientific and social giant – a great scientist, a great teacher, a great leader and a remarkable innovator,” Dr. Alter wrote. “With Joan as inspiration, they have evolved the Hepatitis B Foundation from a random thought to a major international entity serving innumerable carriers of hepatitis B infection and their families.” “Joan, the heart and soul of the HBF, has endeared herself to patients and health care workers and has put hepatitis B into public and governmental consciousness,” Dr. Alter wrote. “She has given patients and their families hope for a better future and Tim has worked on therapeutics to make that hope real.” Joel Rosen, Esq., chairman of the Hepatitis B Foundation’s Board of Directors, said the Blocks certainly are deserving of this honor.  “The dedication and leadership in the fight against hepatitis B demonstrated by Joan and Tim for so many years inspires all of us and has set a high bar for everyone associated with the Hepatitis B Foundation,” Rosen said. “Joan and Tim have always combined great intellectual rigor in their research and public health endeavors with heartfelt compassion for people living with hepatitis B.”   The Hepatitis B Foundation (HBF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure and improving the quality of life for those affected by hepatitis B worldwide. Joan and Tim Block established the HBF in 1991, along with Janine and Paul Witte. Today, it is a trusted global authority and primary portal of information about hepatitis B, with 4 million website visits annually from more than 100 countries. HBF reaches thousands of people each year through email, social media and community-based screening and linkage to care programs.   The Blocks are receiving this award to recognize their outstanding efforts to raise awareness and prioritization of hepatitis B, and to ensure that the 2 million people living with hepatitis B in the U.S. have unhindered access to screening, appropriate medical care and treatment. Under their leadership, HBF’s long-standing commitment to advocacy has resulted in many groundbreaking successes that have prohibited discrimination, increased focus and dollars for research to find a cure for hepatitis B and better treatment for liver cancer, and improved access to medication across the U.S.   Tim was a tenured professor at Thomas Jefferson University and Drexel University College of Medicine until 2015, when he joined the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, the research arm of the Hepatitis B Foundation, full-time. He has more than 250 scholarly publications and earned more than 20 patents. Tim is an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, U.S. National Academy of Inventors.  Joan has served on the WHO Committee for HBV management guidelines, received awards from the White House and CDC for advocacy and has served on the American Liver Foundation national board. # # # About the Hepatitis B Foundation: The nation’s leading nonprofit organization solely dedicated to finding a cure for hepatitis B and improving the quality of life for those affected worldwide through research, education and patient advocacy, the Hepatitis B Foundation is based in Doylestown, Pa., with an office in Washington, D.C. To learn more, go to www.hepb.org, read our blog at hepb.org/blog, follow us on Twitter @HepBFoundation, find us on Facebook at facebook.com/hepbfoundation or call 215-489-4900. To donate, contact Jean Holmes at 215-489-4900 or jean.holmes@hepb.org.   11/04/20

    https://www.hepb.org/news-and-events/news-2/aasld-choses-joan-and-tim-block-for-inaugural-distinguished-advocacy-service-award/
  • Blogs

    Blogs Hepatitis B Foundation Blog: CHIPO Partner Highlight: Hepatitis B Initiative of Washington, D.C. Hepatitis B Foundation Blog: What’s the Difference?: Herbal Remedies and Supplements vs. Western Medicine Hepatitis B Foundation Blog: Reactivation with Hepatitis B: Understanding Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies Hepatitis B Foundation Blog: CHIPO Partner Highlight: United States Coalition for African Immigrant Health Hepatitis B Foundation Blog: CHIPO Partner Highlight: Illinois Public Health Association Hepatitis B Foundation Blog: CHIPO Partner Highlight: Great Lakes Peace Centre Hepatitis B Foundation Blog: Happy NAIRHHA Day 2021! Hepatitis B Foundation Blog: CHIPO Is Looking for New Members! Hepatitis B Foundation Blog: Recap of NAIRHHA Day 2020 Celebration Hepatitis B Foundation Blog: The History of National African Immigrant and Refugee HIV & Hepatitis Awareness Day 2019 Hepatitis B Foundation Blog: Tackling Hepatitis B in Africa: The First Nigerian Hepatitis Summit Hepatitis B Foundation Blog: Hepatitis B and D Coinfection in Central Africa Hepatitis B Foundation Blog: Raising Awareness about Hepatitis B in African Immigrant Communities in the US Hepatitis B Foundation Blog: The History of National African Immigrant and Refugee HIV and Hepatitis Awareness Day 2019

    https://www.hepb.org/research-and-programs/chipo/resources/blogs/