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Research Groups
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Cowie Group
Ben’s group focuses on viral hepatitis epidemiological research. The team undertakes a broad range of activities supporting local, national and global control of viral hepatitis, through surveillance, treatment and prevention initiatives, and training and regional capacity building.
Other work areas include: Public Health
Current Projects
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Blood-borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections surveillance and research program
Surveillance for hepatitis B indicators
3-year project, 1 July 2016 – 30 June 2019
A key aspect of Australia’s National Hepatitis B Strategy 2014-2017 is the identification of specific measurable aims and targets, including increasing the proportion of people living with chronic hepatitis B who have been diagnosed, increasing treatment uptake, and reducing the burden of attributable morbidity and mortality. Measuring progress towards these objectives will allow for identification of priority areas for improvement, and assessment of progress over time in order to shape the public health and policy response to hepatitis B. This project aims to develop disease burden estimation and mathematical modelling approaches to inform the surveillance, monitoring and evaluation of progress towards achieving the objectives of the Second National Hepatitis B Strategy 2014-2017.
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The National Viral Hepatitis Mapping Project
Estimates of chronic hepatitis B and C prevalence, diagnosis, monitoring and treatment
Chronic hepatitis B and C has an uneven distribution in Australia, clustering in particular geographic areas and disproportionately affecting priority populations, such as those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Identification of areas of increased burden and reduced access to care supports the delivery of programmatic responses to those areas and populations with the highest need. This project aims to generate geographically specific estimates of the burden of chronic hepatitis B and C, access to diagnosis, care and treatment, and the incidence of adverse outcomes, to allow identification of high-burden areas and measurement of progress in improving outcomes for people affected.
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Liver Cancer Prevention
Linking viral hepatitis diagnosis, treatment and outcomes
Through health record linkage, combining notifications of viral hepatitis diagnosis, liver cancer diagnoses, hospitalisations, and deaths, as well as records of services provided through the Medicare and Pharmaceutical Benefits programs, this project will develop an accurate picture of the burden of viral hepatitis in Victoria, and measure the impact of care and treatment at a population level as a cancer prevention strategy. By examining the current level of access to care, and measuring the effectiveness of treatment received in preventing liver cancer, this research will guide clinical and public health policy and help address the increasing burden of liver cancer in Australia.
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Victorian Enhanced Viral Hepatitis Surveillance Project
On behalf of and in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services, the Enhanced Viral Hepatitis Surveillance Project aims to simplify the process of chronic hepatitis B and C notification in Victoria, to increase notification data completeness and improve and inform public health and policy responses. The project also aims to increase clinicians’ awareness and engagement regarding viral hepatitis, improving care and prevention access for those diagnosed, increase vaccine ordering and improving the ability to identify cases of chronic viral hepatitis with potential public health significance.
Lab Team
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Epidemiologist
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PhD Scholar
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Epidemiologist
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Epidemiologist
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Project Officer - WHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis
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Epidemiologist
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Mathematical Modeller
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Bowden Group
Scott’s laboratory is the State Reference Laboratory for molecular testing of the hepatitis viruses and has been involved in outbreak investigation of hepatitis A, B, C and E for the Victorian Department of Health, as well as for other Australian states.
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Lewin/Cameron Group
The main focus of the Lewin-Cameron laboratory is to understand why HIV infection persists on antiretroviral therapy, to develop new strategies to eliminate latency and to define the biological determinants of immune reconstitution and factors that drive liver disease in HIV-hepatitis B virus co-infection.
Other work areas include: HIV, Immunology
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Locarnini Group
The current major research interests of Stephen’s group includes viral hepatitis and antiviral chemotherapy with an emphasis on the basic virology of hepatitis B virus, the molecular pathogenesis of hepatitis, as well as prevention and public health control measures.
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Nicholson Group
Suellen's group fulfills a dual mission of providing a technically first class, reliable diagnostic, reference and public health service to the healthcare system, and being an innovative, adaptable, forward-looking component of the scientific community and a valued collaborator in research projects, not just in Victoria, but nationally and in the region.
Other work areas include: HIV
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Revill Group
Peter’s group investigates the role of different HBV genotypes and variants in the HBV life cycle, disease progression and treatment response. This includes the role of splice variants, which his team has shown are predictive of liver cancer.
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Vincan Group
Elizabeth’s group investigates novel ways to block cancer growth with a focus on the gastrointestinal tract – stomach, bowel and liver. A cell-cell communication pathway called Wnt is hyperactive in these cancers. Their research shows inhibiting Wnt has potent anti-cancer effects.
Other work areas include: Immunology
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Walsh Group
Renae’s group studies key HBV proteins to predict clinical response during chronic disease towards understanding the interaction with/recognition by the host antibody response to clear infection, and how the antibody response might be enhanced to promote viral clearance and cure.
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