Funders:

The Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing 

Collaborators:

Lead Organisation: Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney 
Partner Organisation: Menzies School of Health Research
Lead Investigator: Professor Gail Matthews


 

  1. Department of Health awards $3.28M to Kirby Institute infectious disease research

Aims: 

To characterise and monitor hepatitis B linkage to care and treatment requirements among people living with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in Australia.

Objectives: 

To assess and monitor the demographic and clinical characteristics of people living with CHB, including disease phase, treatment uptake and adherence, progression of liver disease, and rates of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance.

Specific objectives

  1. Characterise the socio-demographic spectrum of the cohort 
  2. Assess the proportion of individuals in each phase of CHB 
  3. Determine eligibility for recommended hepatitis B clinical care 
  4. Monitor uptake of clinical care, including antiviral treatment 
  5. Monitor adherence to care, including antiviral use and cessation patterns 
  6. Assess rates of HCC surveillance 
  7. Assess progression between disease phases 
  8. Assess progression of liver fibrosis, including cirrhosis, decompensated cirrhosis, and HCC

 

Summary: 

There is currently no nationally representative data describing how many people living with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in Australia are engaged in clinical care or receiving treatment. It is estimated that around 68% of people with CHB are diagnosed, but only 9% are receiving antiviral therapy—less than one-third of those eligible. This highlights a critical gap in the hepatitis B care cascade.

The REACH-B study is a longitudinal observational cohort led by the Kirby Institute at the University of New South Wales. It will follow up to 10,000 people living with CHB across a national network of clinical services over five years. Menzies contributes data from participants in the Northern Territory.

Using a combination of retrospective and prospective data, the study examines care uptake, treatment engagement, and long-term liver health outcomes. A wide range of service settings are included to ensure representation of priority populations, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people born overseas.

Implications for policy and practice:

Findings from REACH-B will support improvements in clinical care and health outcomes for people living with CHB in Australia. By identifying gaps in the cascade of care and variations in treatment access, the study will inform targeted interventions and service planning.

Given the disproportionate burden of hepatitis B among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, REACH-B will also contribute to identifying culturally appropriate and effective models of care. The findings are expected to inform state and national policy, including future iterations of the National Hepatitis B Strategy, and support efforts to close t

Site Investigator:
Site Project Manager:
Contact information:

paula.binks@menzies.edu.au

Project Dates:

REACH-B Study (national): 28 July 2021 – ongoing
Menzies site participation: 14 April 2023 – ongoing

  

  1. Hajarizadeh, B., Carson, J., George, J., Cowie, B., Davies, J., Hanson, J., Tu, T., Tran, L., Tu, E., Erratt, A., Carter, J., Allard, N., Monaghan, R., Mascarenhas, L., Howard, S., Nelson, R., O’Beirne, J., Wong, I., Hasan, T., Martinello, M., Dore, G., & Matthews, G. (2024, August 1–3). Anti-viral treatment levels among treatment-eligible people living with chronic hepatitis B in Australia: The REACH-B study [Conference presentation]. Australasian Viral Hepatitis Conference, Darwin, Australia.

REal World Assessment of people living with Chronic Hepatitis B in Australia (REACH-B)