Gilead Sciences announced a global distribution of $4 million through its ALL4LIVER Grant to support community-backed innovative projects associated with hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and hepatitis D (HDV). An official announcement was made at a Gilead-hosted symposium titled “Partnering for Global Health Equity: Case Studies from Around the World,” held during the World Hepatitis Summit in Lisbon.
Out of 71 organisations awarded the 2023 Grant, two non-profit organisations based in India have been honored: Chennai Liver Foundation and FIND. The two recipients are selected by an independent external review panel of global experts, including the World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA). This collaboration extends WHA’s longstanding partnership with Gilead to further the Grant’s ambition of supporting community-led efforts and catalysing viral hepatitis elimination efforts.
The grant funding will empower the two organisations to launch innovative projects aimed at driving testing, improving linkage to care, and elevating viral hepatitis on the public health agenda.
FIND a not-for-profit organisation, will utilise the funding to support micro-elimination efforts for hepatitis C by introducing innovative testing and linkage approaches for people who inject drugs (PWIDs). The initiative will leverage and expand existing government testing and treatment programs to better reach high risk groups such as PWIDs in collaboration with the National and State Viral Hepatitis Control Program. T
The other grantee, Chennai Liver Foundation, plans to scale an educational program amongst healthcare professionals, with the objective of achieving 90 per cent proficiency in HBV prevention and treatment protocols in healthcare settings. The Foundation will also track, publish and present the outcomes of training methodologies deployed in raising awareness, improving standard of care and benefiting people living with hepatitis to local and international government agencies and organisations.
Notably, this marks the second cycle of the Gilead ALL4LIVER Grant in Asia. Since 2021, the Grant has been supporting campaigns led by local community organisations, aimed at driving testing, sharing knowledge of viral hepatitis, and raising awareness of the disease. The 2023 Grant recipients span regions including Africa, South America, Asia, Oceania, Europe, and North America. The $4 million funding will be committed to community-backed innovative projects that address unmet needs associated with HCV, HBV, and HDV by tackling stigma and discrimination, while simultaneously supporting efforts to achieve the elimination of viral hepatitis elimination as a public health concern.