The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), under the inter-institutional infectious disease programme, will soon begin research on hepatitis C virus.

The DBT's initiative in this regard comes in the backdrop of the fact that hepatitis C virus (HCV) represents a significant global health problem due to its remarkable ability to establish persistent infections that lead to progressive liver pathology and a poor sustained response to prevailing therapy.

Officials said that DBT intends to enable, promote and accelerate research and development (R&D) activities that will enhance the capacity and capability of those committed to HCV research.

For this purpose, the DBT has invited proposals from interested researchers. The specific themes for research include creation of a blood and tissue Bio-Bank to facilitate basic and clinical research on HCV (the proposal must include a management, sharing and sustenance plan); establish facilities for propagation of HCV to high titers in cell culture with a translational end-point; establish facilities to develop humanized mouse models for in vivo testing of candidate vaccines and antivirals; develop improved and low cost diagnostic assay systems for HCV (the proposal must include a blinded testing and validation plan); develop HCV genotype 3 replicons and infectious molecular clones; identification of adaptive mutations and understanding their biological mechanisms; and studies on immune responses and pathogenesis of HCV genotype 3 in Indian patients.

The proposals must highlight collaborative approaches that would add value to the research plan and outcomes. Proposals that involve more than one institution will be preferred.

Hepatitis C is an infectious disease affecting primarily the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus. The infection is often asymptomatic, but chronic infection can lead to scarring of the liver and ultimately to cirrhosis, which is generally apparent after many years. In some cases, those with cirrhosis will go on to develop liver failure, liver cancer or life-threatening esophageal and gastric varices.

HCV is spread primarily by blood-to-blood contact associated with intravenous drug use, poorly sterilized medical equipment and transfusions. An estimated 130–170 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C.

The virus persists in the liver in about 85 per cent of those infected. This persistent infection can be treated with medication: the standard therapy is a combination of peginterferon and ribavirin, with either boceprevir or telaprevir added in some cases. Overall, 50 - 80 per cent of people treated are cured. Those who develop cirrhosis or liver cancer may require a liver transplant. Hepatitis C is the leading cause of liver transplantation, though the virus usually recurs after transplantation. At present no vaccine against hepatitis C is available.