Taking on hepatitis C

A team of researchers at the Beirne B. Carter Center for Immunology Research recently received a $660,000 grant from the Chicago-based Dr. Ralph and Marion Falk Medical Research Trust, to develop treatments and vaccines for hepatitis C and to help establish an international research center.

Hepatitis C infection, a chronic form of hepatitis caused by a virus, is spread by blood, generally through unprotected sex or needle sharing. Roughly 4 million Americans are infected, making hepatitis C the most common blood-borne infection. Although screening tests exist, most people are unaware they are infected until they are diagnosed with liver failure or liver cancer. Treatments suppress the virus in only a small number of patients.