Waridibo Allison, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor in infectious disease, has been awarded a three-year, $6.5 million grant to study hepatitis C in people living with HIV. The grant is from the Health Resources Services and Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
“Nearly 400,000 residents of Texas are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV),” Dr. Allison said. “HIV infection accelerates the progression of liver disease in people co-infected with both HIV and HCV compared to those with HCV only. It is therefore important that co-infected patients are cured of HCV infection.
“This grant funding provides an opportunity to implement comprehensive, effective HCV screening, care, treatment and surveillance systems in people living with HIV, including people of color,” she added.