Burnet researchers threw their support behind a new #AustHepCFree by 2026 campaign launched at the 10th Australasian Viral Hepatitis Conference on the Gold Coast.

Federal Deputy Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP proudly donned the special Reg Mombassa-designed ‘Elimination is the Goal’ t-shirt, joining hundreds of conference participants who supported the campaign to raise awareness about the need to eliminate hepatitis C in Australia, and ultimately globally.

More than 630,000 Australians are living with the blood-borne virus, which causes more than 600 deaths each year from liver cancer and liver failure. The campaign, initiated by the EC Partnership, aims for a hepatitis C free Australia by 2026. The availability of new, highly curative treatments - oral, direct-acting antiviral drugs - means that a hepatitis C free Australia is well within reach.

Image: Professor Margaret Hellard launching ‘Elimination is the Goal’.

Many of Burnet’s leading hepatitis C researchers presented at the Conference or represented the Institute to highlight the innovative work being done through our TAP Study, Prime Study, EC Partnership, co-EC Study and ACCESS program. Among those attending included Deputy Director, Associate Professor David Anderson, Professor Margaret Hellard, Associate Professor Heidi Drummer, Associate Professor Mark Stoové, Dr Nick Scott, Dr Joe Doyle, Dr Brett Sutton, Dr Patricia Vietheer, Lilian Phu, Sally von Bibra and Kate Allardice

Image: Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, USA, Alexander Ploss met with Associate Professor Heidi Drummer at Burnet’s conference booth.

The Australasian Viral Hepatitis Conference is the leading multidisciplinary Viral Hepatitis conference in Australasia.

Find out more about our hepatitis C programs.