Competence Network Hepatitis (HEP-NET)

1. Funding phase

Projects: 01KI0102, 01KI0201
Funding period: 01.02.2002 - 31.03.2005
Volume: 7,7 mio EUR

2. Funding phase

Projects: 01KI0401 - 01KI0420, 01KI0434 - 01KI0437
Funding period: 01.02.2005 - 31.07.2007
Volume: 4,9 mio EUR

3. Funding phase

Project: 01KI0601
Funding period: 01.02.2007 - 31.12.2010
Volume: 2,6 mio EUR

Total Funding

Funding period: 01.02.2002 - 31.12.2010
Volume: 15 mio EUR

Network speaker: Prof. Dr. Michael Manns
Deutsche Leberstiftung und Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
Abt. für Gastroenterologie, Hepatologie und Endokrinologie
Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1
30623 Hannover
Tel.: +49 511 5326819
E-Mail: zentrale@kompetenznetz-hepatitis.de

Viral hepatitis is one of the most common infectious diseases in the world. In Germany almost one million people are chronically infected with the hepatitis viruses C, B or D. Chronic inflammation leads to liver damage. The organ transforms into scarred tissue; cirrhosis or even liver cancer may develop. About half of the annually 600 patients receiving a donor liver suffer from chronic viral hepatitis.
Our understanding of virus infections has considerably improved in recent years. Nevertheless only half of the patients with chronic hepatitis C and a quarter of the patients with chronic hepatitis B currently respond to treatment.
Basic researchers, industry and patient advocacy groups are cooperating in the competence network on viral hepatitis "Hep-Net" in order to study epidemiology, development into chronic disease and best therapy approaches for individual patients. Another major task will be the development of a vaccine against hepatitis C.

The Competence Network Hepatitis is part of the funding program "Competence Networks in Medicine".
For more detailed information regarding the Competence Network Hepatitis see: http://www.kompetenznetz-hepatitis.de/index_en.html.