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Geisinger researcher nominated for federal award for work in chronic hepatitis
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The CDC recently nominated Joseph Boscarino, PhD, MPH, senior scientist at Geisinger Health System in Pennsylvania, and colleagues for an award recognizing their approach to addressing a major public health issue: chronic hepatitis.
They have been nominated for the CDC’s Charles C. Shepard Science Award for their 2013 study, “Baseline Characteristics and Mortality among People in Care for Chronic Hepatitis: The Chronic Hepatitis Cohort Study,” which was published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
“Hepatitis C killed my younger brother in 2010, so finding a cure for this disease is very personal for me,” Boscarino said in a press release.
Joseph Boscarino
The Chronic Hepatitis Cohort Study, which included more than 11,000 patients with chronic hepatitis infections, highlighted the significant public health burden of hepatitis in the United States, particularly among baby boomers. Results of the study indicated that 9% of individuals with hepatitis B and 14% of those with HCV — a majority of whom were born between 1945 and 1964 — died of the infections between 2006 and 2010.
“In our country today, there is a great deal of emphasis put on the research and treatment of different types of cancer, heart disease, diabetes and the like — and rightfully so — but the Chronic Hepatitis Cohort Study sheds light on the fact that chronic hepatitis B and C should be treated with the same urgency,” Boscarino said. “This study is the largest of its kind to examine the incidence and health care impact of chronic hepatitis B and C in the US population, and the results are enlightening with respect to the prevalence, treatment and course of chronic hepatitis disease.”
The study was nominated for its data methods and study design — one of four categories of the award. This category recognizes an outstanding or exceptional approach to solving a public health challenge, according to the CDC. The other categories are assessment, prevention and control and laboratory science.
The CDC award is given both for outstanding scientific publications and for lifetime scientific achievement. Nominations are reviewed by committee, which is expected to reach a decision regarding Boscarino and colleagues later this year.
For more information:
Moorman AC. Clin Infect Dis. 2013;56:40-50.