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Review
. 2025 Nov 8;22(1):53.
doi: 10.1007/s11904-025-00763-y.

Envisioning a Multidisciplinary HBV Cure Research Agenda

Karine Dubé  1 , Ali Ahmed  2 , Chari Cohen  3 , Yasmin Ibrahim  3 , George A Yendewa  4 , Edward R Cachay  2 , Su Wang  5 , Kristen Marks  6 , Arthur Y Kim  7 , Jeremy Sugarman  8   9 , David L Thomas  9 , Chloe L Thio  9 , Debika Bhattacharya  10
Affiliations
Review

Envisioning a Multidisciplinary HBV Cure Research Agenda

Karine Dubé et al. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. .

Abstract

Purpose of review: We examine the current understanding of the multidisciplinary aspects of hepatitis B cure research, such as socio-behavioral sciences, ethics, community engagement, and translational and implementation science.

Recent findings: The peer-reviewed literature on the multi-disciplinary aspects of HBV cure research is gradually expanding, although several areas still require attention. These deficiencies include: the acceptability of HBV treatment discontinuations, HBV-related stigma, the impact of co-infections (e.g., HIV), and the translation of discoveries to resource-limited settings. This review highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary framework that bridges socio-behavioral sciences, ethics, community engagement, and translational and implementation science to help ensure the development of an effective, acceptable, scalable and equitable HBV cure.

Keywords: Community engagement; Ethics; HBV cure research; HBV-HIV co-infection; Review; Socio-behavioral sciences.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent: This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animal subjects performed by any of the authors. Competing interests: K.D. provides consulting services for Gilead Sciences, Inc. and AbbVie, Inc., unrelated to this manuscript. C.C. serves on patient advisory councils for Gilead Sciences, Inc. and GSK, with support paid to the Hepatitis B Foundation. Y.I. serves on a Roche steering committee, with support paid to the Hepatitis B Foundation. The Hepatitis B Foundation receives education and public health grants from Gilead Sciences, Inc., GSK, Vir, Roche, and Dynavax Technologies. E.R.C. receives payments from Gilead Sciences, Inc., unrelated to this manuscript. S.W. has received funding from Gilead Sciences, Inc. (paid to the institution) and holds unpaid roles with the Hepatitis B Foundation, HepBCommunity.org Steering Committee, AASLD Patient Advisory Board – HBV Special Interest Group, and the HBV Forum Steering Committee. K.M. has received grants from Gilead Sciences, Inc. and GSK (ViiV), paid to the institution. A.Y.K. plays a leadership role with the AASLD HBV Treatment Guidelines. J.S. is a consultant for Merck KGaA, IQVIA, and Merck, as well as a member of the Clinical Advisory Committee for Aspen Neurosciences, unrelated to this manuscript. D.L.T. is a scientific advisor to Excision Biosciences, a company working on an HBV cure. D.B. receives grant support, paid to the institution, from Gilead Sciences, Inc., unrelated to this manuscript. Other authors have no disclosures.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Conceptual Framework – Envisioning a Multidisciplinary HBV Cure Research Agenda. Adapted from [24]
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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