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

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

  3. Hep B Colloquium – Session 3, Community Perspectives

  4. Hep B Colloquium – Session 2, Laboratory Perspectives

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

  1. HEP VOICE Magazine - October - December 2023

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

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

  4. Five medical research projects recognised in the Northern Territory

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

  6. Bininj Kunwok Regional Language Centre supports new phone App

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

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

  9. Chronic hepatitis B elimination partnership launched

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

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

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

  13. ABC online | Elcho Island researchers bound for Alaska