Hepatitis C research in B.C. given $5M boost

Study will look for ways to reduce new infections in the province

A new study looking at ways to reduce the incidence of hepatitis C infections across the province will be launched following funding of $5 million from the B.C. government.

The study, which will be led by Dr. Julio Montaner, director of the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BCCFE), was announced Thursday morning by Health Minister Terry Lake.

“This initiative offers a unique opportunity to potentially curb the rapidly rising toll of hepatitis C in North America,” Montaner said.

A collaboration between the BCCFE, B.C. Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver Coastal Health, St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation and University of British Columbia, the study will focus on patients in Vancouver who have been successfully cured of hepatitis C, but are identified as at high risk of re-infection.

By evaluating treatment options, harm reduction and support services currently offered through Vancouver Coastal Health, the team hopes to identify the next steps in improving outcomes for patients.

Hepatitis C currently affects an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 British Columbians and can be life-threatening.

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During the Canada Post strike announced September 25, 2025, the following measures will be undertaken to minimize service disruption to BC-CfE clients and providers.

  • The BC-CfE Laboratory has transitioned to private courier for delivery of outgoing reports and documents. Results required urgently can be faxed upon request. (Lab Contact Information: Phone 604-806-8775; FAX 604-806-9463)
  • The BC-CfE Drug Treatment Program (DTP) will fax outgoing forms and documents to the provider’s office. (DTP Contact Information: Phone 604-806-8515; FAX 604-806-9044)
  • St. Paul’s Hospital Ambulatory Pharmacy has transitioned to private courier for delivery of medications. We recommend requesting medication at least 2 weeks in advance in case of delivery delays, particularly to rural/remote parts of BC. (Contact Information: Phone 1-800-547-3622; FAX 604-806-8675)

During the Canada Post strike, we recommend that documents be faxed or couriered to our sites, versus utilization of regular mail service

The BC-CfE Laboratory is streamlining reporting processes for certain tests in order to simplify distribution and record-keeping, and to ensure completeness of results. Beginning September 2, 2025, results for the ‘Resistance Analysis of HIV-1 Protease and Reverse Transcriptase’ (Protease-RT) and ‘HIV-1 Integrase Resistance Genotype’ tests will be combined into a single ‘HIV-1 Resistance Genotype Report’.
For more details and example reports, please click on the button below

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