Around 226,000 Australians are living with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and approximately 170,000 Australians are living with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) can lead to cirrhosis, liver damage or liver cancer.

In the Northern Territory (NT) between 3 and 11 per cent of Aboriginal people live with CHB and approximately 1.9 per cent live with CHC. Hepatitis B has a vaccine and hepatitis C has a cure, which means the virtual elimination of viral hepatitis is possible.

Our research focus:
  • To measure the disease burden caused by HBV infection in the NT
  • To use novel approaches to make testing for HBV and liver cancer easier
  • To understand the impact of a novel HBV genotype on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Northern Australia to improve vaccination and disease management strategies
  • To use a partnership approach to sustainably eliminate hepatitis B from the Aboriginal population in the NT
  • Using nurse-led, peer-based models of care to diagnose and treat hepatitis C in the community
Our research impact:
  • Discovered a new genotype of HBV – HBV/C4. This genotype is unique to Aboriginal Australians in the NT and its surface protein is different from other HBVs. As a result, we will conduct studies to determine whether the vaccine given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants is as effective as first thought.
  • Found high rates of liver cancer in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, which are mainly due to HBV infection. It is possible that the HBV/C4 genotype is more aggressive than other strains.
  • In partnership with remote communities, we have developed a culturally appropriate HBV educational resource and translated this into 11 Aboriginal languages, covering the first language of at least 70% of the Aboriginal NT population 
  • Identified the hepatitis B sero-status of over 90% of Aboriginal clients in Top End and Central Australia Health Services.
  • In partnership with the Aboriginal health workforce, developed a hepatitis B management education course, along with a transferable model for the development of culturally safe training. 
Key staff:
Collaborators:
  • Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory
  • Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation
  • Katherine West Health Board
  • Central Australian Aboriginal Congress
  • NT Department of Health
  • The Australasian Society for Sexual Health, HIV and Viral Hepatitis Medicine (ASHM)
  • The NT Aids and Hepatitis Council (NTAHC)
  • The Burnet Institute
  1. Hosking K, Binks P, De Santis T, Wilson P, et al. Evaluating a novel model of hepatitis B care, Hep B PAST, in the Northern Territory of Australia: results from a prospective, population-based study. The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific, Volume 48,2024,101116, ISSN 2666-6065. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanwpc.2024.101116
  2. Binks, P., Venkatesan, S., Everitt, A., Garambaka Gurruwiwi, G., Dhurrkay, Bukulatjpi, S.M., R., Ross, C., Alley, T., Hosking, K.,Vintour-Cesar, E., McKinnon, M., Sullivan, R., Davis J.S., Hefler, M., Davies J. (2024). “An evaluation and refinement of the ‘Hep B Story’ app, tailored to meet the community’s cultural needs”. BMC Health Service Research 24: 710. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11149-y
  3. Binks, P., Ross, C., Garambaka Gurruwiwi, G., Wurrawilya, S., Alley, T., Bukulatjpi, S.M., Vintour-Cesar, E., Hosking, K., Davis J.S., Hefler, M., Davies J. (2024). “Adapting and translating the ‘Hep B Story’ App the right way: A transferable toolkit to develop health resources with, and for, Aboriginal people. Health Promotion Journal of Australia 11 (1). http://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.858
  4. Hosking, K., De Santis, T., Vintour-Cesar, E., Wilson, PM., Bunn, L., Garambaka Gurruwiwi, G., Wurrawilya, S., Bukulatjpi Mariyalawuy, S., Nelson, S., Ross, C., Stuart-Carter, K-A., Ngurruwuthun, T., Dhagapan, A. (2024). Putting the power back into community: A mixed methods evaluation of a chronic hepatitis B training course for the Aboriginal health workforce of Australia’s Northern Territory. PLoS ONE 19(1): e0288577 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0288577
  5. Hosking, K., De Santis, T., Vintour-Cesar, E., Wilson, P. M., Bunn, L., Gurruwiwi, G. G., Wurrawilya, S., Bukulatjpi, S. M., Nelson, S., Ross, C., Binks, P., Schroder, P., Davis, J. S., Taylor, S., Connors, C., & Davies, J. (2023). “The most culturally safe training I’ve ever had.” The co-design of a culturally safe Managing hepatitis B training course with and for the Aboriginal health workforce of the Northern Territory of Australia. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2830413/v1
  6. Hanson, J., Radlof, S., Littlejohn, M., Hempenstall, A., Edwards, R., Nakata, Y., Gregson, S., Hayes, R., Smith, S., McKinnon, M., Binks, P., Tong, S. Y. C., Davies, J., & Davis, J. S. (2023). Hepatitis B genotypes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians: correlation with clinical course and implications for management. Internal Medicine Journal, 10.1111/imj.16181. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/imj.16181
  7. Sullivan, R.P., Davies, J., Binks, P, McKinnon, M., Dhurrkay RG., Hosking, K., Bukulatjpi SM., Locarnini, S., Littlejohn, M., Jackson, K., Tong SYV., Davis, JS. Preventing early childhood transmission of hepatitis B in remote Aboriginal communities in northern Australia. Int J Equity Health 21, 186 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-022-01808-z
  8. Sullivan, R.P., Baird, R., Freeman, K. Heggie H., Davis JS., Marshall CS., Davies J. Viral hepatitis in correctional facilities in the Northern Territory of Australia 2003–2017. BMC Infect Dis. 21, 584 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-021-06286-2
  9. Hosking, K., Stewart, G., Mobsby, M., Skov, S., Zhao, Y., Su, J-Y. et al. (2020). Data linkage and computerised algorithmic coding to enhance individual clinical care for Aboriginal people living with chronic hepatitis B in the Northern Territory of Australia – Is it feasible? PLoS ONE 15(4): e0232207.
  10. Hla, T., Bukulatjpi, S., Binks, P., Gurruwiwi, G., Dhurrkay, R. & Davies, J. (2020). A “one stop liver shop” approach improves the cascade-of-care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians living with chronic hepatitis B in the Northern Territory of Australia: results of a novel care delivery model. International Journal Equity in Health 19:64.
  11. Qama, A., Allard, N., Cowie, B., Davis, J. & Davies, J. (2020). Hepatitis B in the Northern Territory: chi into the changing epidemiology of an ancient condition. Internal Medicine Journal, 51:910-922.
  12. Sullivan, R., Davies, J., Binks, P., Dhurrkay, R., Gurruwiwi, G., Bukulatjpi, S., McKinnon, M., Hosking, K., Littlejohn, M., Jackson, K., Locarnini, S., Davis, J. & Tong, S. (2019). Point of care and oral fluid hepatitis B testing in remote Indigenous communities of Northern Australia. Journal of Viral Hepatitis 27:407-414.
  13. Yuen, L. K. W., Littlejohn, M., Duchêne, S., Edwards, R., Bukulatjpi, S., Binks, P., Jackson, K., Davies, J., Davis, J. S., Tong, S. Y. C., & Locarnini, S. (2019). Tracing Ancient Human Migrations into Sahul Using Hepatitis B Virus Genomes. Molecular biology and evolution, 36(5), 942–954. https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msz021
  14. Cheah BC, Davies J, Singh GR, Wood N, Jackson K, Littlejohn M, Davison B, McIntyre P, Locarnini S, Davis JS, Tong SYC. Sub-optimal protection against past hepatitis B virus infection where subtype mismatch exists between vaccine and circulating viral genotype in northern Australia. Vaccine 36 (2018) 3533-3540
  15. Littlejohn, M., Davies, J., Yuen, L., Tong, S., Davis, J.S., & Locarnini, S. (2014). Molecular virology of Hepatitis B virus, subgenotype C4 in Northern Australian Indigenous populations. Journal of Medical Virology, 86(4), 695-706.
 
Click here to view more hepatitis b publications in PubMed.
Hep B PAST Project updates:
  1. Hep B Story App

    Hep B Story App

    Date

    The Hep B Story App is a visual, interactive app designed for patients living with chronic hepatitis B (hep B) and their families.

  2. Hep B Colloquium – Session 4, Implementation of HBV Research into Practice

    Hep B Colloquium – Session 4, Implementation of HBV Research into Practice

    Date

    Hear from A/Prof Miriam Levy, Prof Gail Matthews and Dr Jess Howell.

  3. Hep B Colloquium – Session 3, Community Perspectives

    Hep B Colloquium – Session 3, Community Perspectives

    Date

    Hear from Prof James Ward, Kelly Hosking, Teresa De Santis, Sandra Nelson, Sharna Radlof, Dr Belinda Greenwood-Smith, Dr Karen Fuller, Matthew Maddison, Jaclyn Tate-Baker, Dr Christine Connors, Paula Binks, Cheryl Ross, George Gurruwiwi, Shiraline Wurrawilya.

  4. Hep B Colloquium – Session 2, Laboratory Perspectives

    Hep B Colloquium – Session 2, Laboratory Perspectives

    Date

    Hear from Prof Peter Revill, Prof Elaine Holmes, Paula Binks and Dr Margaret Littlejohn.

  5. Hep B Colloquium – Session 1, Global and Regional Perspectives

    Hep B Colloquium – Session 1, Global and Regional Perspectives

    Date

    Hear from Prof Joshua Davis, A/Prof Jane Davies, Prof Ben Cowie, Jennifer MacLachlan, Dr Josh Hanson and Prof Greg Dore.

  1. HEP VOICE Magazine - October - December 2023

    HEP VOICE Magazine - October - December 2023

    Date

    Kelly Hosking of Menzies School of Health Research shares an insight about the Hep B PAST Program with the World Hepatitis Alliance online magazine.

  2. MEDIA RELEASE | Hep B program highlights expertise as CDU Menzies School of Medicine seeks more student placements in the NT

    MEDIA RELEASE | Hep B program highlights expertise as CDU Menzies School of Medicine seeks more student placements in the NT

    Date

    The CDU Menzies School of Medicine continues its momentum to advocate for the Australian Government to allocate 40 new placements for medical students in the Northern Territory.

  3. MEDIA RELEASE | Crucial tool to assist in the elimination of Chronic Hepatitis B launched

    MEDIA RELEASE | Crucial tool to assist in the elimination of Chronic Hepatitis B launched

    Date

    An educational app designed to improve health literacy around the hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been translated to provide more than 70 per cent of the Northern Territory (NT) Aboriginal population access in their first language.

  4. Five medical research projects recognised in the Northern Territory

    Five medical research projects recognised in the Northern Territory

    Date

    Five researchers based at Menzies have received recognition in the form of Investigator Grants from the NHMRC and the MRFF.

  5. Innovative data use an important step in eliminating hep B

    Innovative data use an important step in eliminating hep B

    Date

    A team of researchers in the Northern Territory (NT) have designed and tested a new algorithm to determine hepatitis B status.

  6. Bininj Kunwok Regional Language Centre supports new phone App

    Bininj Kunwok Regional Language Centre supports new phone App

    Date

    Menzies School of Health Research in Darwin are making a new phone app about Hepatitis B in Kunwinjku language with help from the Bininj Kunwok Regional Language Centre.

  7. Hepatitis B DNA Helps Trace History and Movement of First Australians

    Hepatitis B DNA Helps Trace History and Movement of First Australians

    Date

    The team found that hepatitis B virus isolated from these Aboriginal Australians is a unique strain called HBV/C4, which is not found anywhere else in the world.

  8. Hepatitis B virus sheds light on ancient human population movements into Australia

    Hepatitis B virus sheds light on ancient human population movements into Australia

    Date

    Australian researchers have used current hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome sequences to deduce ancient human population movements into Australia, adding weight to the theory that the mainland Aboriginal population separated from other early humans at least 59 thousand years ago and possibly entered the country near the Tiwi Islands.

  9. Chronic hepatitis B elimination partnership launched

    Chronic hepatitis B elimination partnership launched

    Date

    A collaboration working to eliminate chronic hepatitis B (CHB) from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in the Northern Territory (NT) is being launched by NT Health Minister the Hon Natasha Fyles.

  10. Making hepatitis B information more widely available to Indigenous communities

    Making hepatitis B information more widely available to Indigenous communities

    Date

    Menzies is doing its part to ensure more Indigenous Territorians have access to potentially life-saving information about hepatitis B this World Hepatitis Day.

  11. Katherine Times | Making hepatitis B information more widely available to Indigenous communities

    Katherine Times | Making hepatitis B information more widely available to Indigenous communities

    Date

    Katherine Times | Making hepatitis B information more widely available to Indigenous communities

  12. Chronic hepatitis B to be eliminated from the Northern Territory

    Chronic hepatitis B to be eliminated from the Northern Territory

    Date

    An important collaboration which will work to eliminate chronic hepatitis B (CHB) from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in the Northern Territory (NT) has been established.

  13. ABC online | Elcho Island researchers bound for Alaska

    ABC online | Elcho Island researchers bound for Alaska

    Date

    Three community-based researchers from Elcho Island working with Menzies School of Health Research are bound for Alaska to present at an international viral hepatitis conference.