­­­5^th Hepatitis C Technical Advisory Group (TAG) Meeting: Science Symposium

November 18, 2019

TIME

PRESENTATIONS

SPEAKERS

9:00-9:30

Welcome and Opening Remarks

·         Activities of the Scientific Committee of the National Hepatitis C Elimination Program, 2016-2019

Dr. Amiran Gamkrelidze, NCDC

Dr. Francisco Averhoff, US CDC

Dr. Tinatin Kuchuloria, TEPHINET

9:30-10:15

Immediate and Long-term Clinical Outcomes of DAA Treatment

·         Assessment of the national hepatitis C elimination program: treatment outcomes and associated factors, 2015-2019

Dr. Lali Sharvadze, IDACIRC

·         Challenges to HCV micro-elimination in HIV/HCV co-infection in Georgia

Dr. Nikoloz Chkhartishvili, IDACIRC

·         Long-term health outcome among HCV patients with advanced liver fibrosis treated through the HCV elimination program

Dr. Maia Kajaia, Health Research Union (HRU)

10:15-11:15

Evaluation of Diagnostics and Treatment Delivery Models Both at Specialized and Non-specialized HCV Care Settings

·         Integrating HCV screening and simplified treatment services in primary healthcare

Dr. Akaki Abutidze, IDACIRC

·         Effectiveness of three models of HCV diagnostics in harm reduction: Impact on linkage to care—A pilot project in Georgia

Dr. Sonjelle Shilton, FIND

·         Integration of HCV RNA testing on existing GeneXperts in Georgia to assist in current HCV care decentralization efforts 

Dr. Maia Japaridze, FIND

11:15-11:45

BREAK

11:45-12:30

Novel Approaches to Laboratory Diagnostics

·         Evaluation study of HCV Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs), dry blood spots for HCV RNA testing, and the Genedrive® HCV ID Kit in Georgia

Dr. Maia Alkhazashvili, NCDC

·         Evaluation of the diagnostic performance of HCVcAg as test of cure in for hepatitis C among PWID in Georgia

Dr. Nazibrola Chitadze, NCDC

·         Using next generation sequencing (NGS) capacity for hepatitis C surveillance in Georgia

Dr. Adam Kotorashvili, NCDC

12:30-1:00

Surveillance

·         Establishing a Georgian PWID cohort study to estimate incidence of HCV infection

Dr. Ketevan Shermadini IDACIRC

·         HCV reinfection in people living with HIV in Georgia

Dr. Pati Gabunia, IDACIRC

1:00-2:00

LUNCH

2:00-2:30

Surveillance

·         HCV-attributable hepatocellular carcinoma among persons with hepatobiliary cancer diagnoses in Georgia: 2015-2016

·         Impact on mortality of HCV treatment with direct acting anti-viral medications, Georgia, 2015-2018   

Dr. Ana Aslanikashvili, NCDC

Dr. Lia Gvinjilia, TEPHINET

2:30-2:45

Economic Evaluation

·         Estimation of the cost effectiveness of the HCV treatment program in Georgia

Dr. Josephine Walker, University of Bristol

2:45-3:15

BREAK

3:15-4:00

Hepatitis B

·         Prevalence and risk factors for the hepatitis B infection – 2015 serosurvey results

·         Progress and challenges in HBV prevention, care and treatment

·         Epidemiology and treatment outcomes of HBV infection among HCV patients treated with Direct Acting Antivirals (DAAs)

Dr. Ana Kasradze, NCDC

Dr. Mamuka Zakalashvili, Clinic Mrcheveli

Dr. Maia Butsashvili, Health Research Union

4:00-4:45

Mother-to -Child Transmission of Viral Hepatitis B and C

·         Overview of the maternal and child state program in Georgia

·         HCV Screening and linkage to care in antenatal clinics

·         Knowledge and perceived risk of HCV infection among women of reproductive age in Georgia

Dr. Vladimer Getia, NCDC

Dr. Muazzam Nasrullah, US CDC

Dr. Tinatin Abzianidze, Health Research Union

4:45-5:00

Final Remarks

Dr. Amiran Gamkrelidze, NCDC

5^th Hepatitis C Technical Advisory Group (TAG) Meeting: Day 1

November 19, 2019

8:30-9:00

Registration

9:00-9:30

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Ekaterine Tikaradze, Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia

Ms. Elizabeth Rood, Chargé d’Affaires, US Embassy

Dr. Carolyn Wester, US CDC

Dr. Betty Chiang, Gilead Sciences

Dr. Silviu Domente, WHO Georgia Office Head

9:30-10:00

Introduction of TAG Members and Role of the TAG

·         Purpose of the meeting and overview of agenda

·         Introduction of TAG members

·         Review 2018 TAG recommendations

Dr. Carolyn Wester, US CDC (Chair) & Dr. Margaret Hellard, Burnet Institute, Australia (Co-Chair)

10:00-10:30

Progress and Challenges of the HCV Elimination Program in Georgia 2015-2019

Dr. Tamar Gabunia, Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia (MOH)

10:30-11:00

Media Coverage/Break

11:00-11:15

The interim impact and ongoing treatment requirements for achieving HCV elimination in Georgia

Dr. Peter Vickerman, Bristol University, UK

11:15-11:45

Key issues and challenges for achieving HCV elimination in Georgia

Dr. Francisco Averhoff, US CDC

11:45-1:30

11:45-12:15

12:15-1:30

Identify Persons Infected with HCV (and Linked to Care)

·         TAG 2018 recommendations, status of HCV screening: successes, challenges, and plans to address challenges

Discussion by TAG/Q & A

TAG moderators: Dr. Carlos Del Rio, Emory University, USA & Dr. Sharon Hutchinson, National Health Service, Scotland, UK

Discussants: Irma Khonelidze, NCDC, Alexander Turdziladze, NCDC, Vladimer Getia, NCDC, Muazzam Nasrullah, US CDC

Dr. Amiran Gamkrelidze, NCDC

1:30-2:30

Lunch

2:30-3:30

2:30-2:50

2:50-3:00

3:00-3.30

Provide HCV Care and Treatment

·         TAG 2018 recommendations, status of HCV care and treatment: successes, challenges, and plans to address challenges including simplified testing and cure strategies in decentralization of HCV services

·         Update on HCV screening, care and treatment in Georgia’s Corrections System

Discussion by TAG/Q & A

TAG moderators: Dr. Graham Foster, University of London, UK & Dr. Jorge Mera, Cherokee Nation, US

Discussants: Tengiz Tsertvadze, IDACIRC, Eka Adamia, MOH, Lali Sharvadze, IDACIRC, Akaki Abutidze, IDACIRC, Uka Kiladze, National Family Medicine Center, Maia Butsashvili, HRU, Jaba Zarkua, Clinic Mrcheveli, Maka Gogia, GHRN

Dr. Tengiz Tsertsvadze, IDACIRC

Ministry of Justice of Georgia, Special Penitentiary Service

3.30-3:50

BREAK

3:50-4:50

3:50-4:05

4:05-4:50

Promote Advocacy, Awareness, Education, and Partnerships for  HCV-Associated Resource Mobilization

·         TAG 2018 recommendations, status of education/advocacy efforts: successes, challenges, and plans to address challenges

Round Table/Discussion by TAG/Q & A

·         Temur Radiani, Hepatitis C Cured Patient Association

·         Maia Butsashvili, Health Research Union (HRU)

·         Konstantine Rukhadze, Georgia Community Advisory Board (GeCAB)

·         Maka Gogia, Georgia Harm Reduction Network

·         Konstantine Labartkava, New Vector

TAG moderators: Dr. Tatjana Reic, European Liver Patients Association, Croatia & Dr. Jeff Lazarus, EASL International Liver Foundation, Switzerland

Discussants: Temur Radiani, Patient Association, Maia Butsashvili, HRU, Konstantine Rukhadze, GeCAB

Dr. Marina Topuridze, NCDC

4:50-5:50

4:50-5:15

5:15-5:50

Activities to Improve HCV Surveillance and Program Effectiveness

·         TAG 2018 recommendations, status of HCV surveillance:  successes, challenges, and plans to address challenges

Discussion by TAG/Q & A

TAG moderators: Dr. Antons Mozalevskis,
WHO-EURO, Denmark & Dr. Priti Patel, US CDC

Discussants: Khatuna Zakhashvili, NCDC, Maia Butsashvili, HRU, Tinatin Kuchuloria, TEPHINET, Lia Gvinjilia, TEPHINET, Tsira Merabishvili, NCDC, Ketevan Galdavadze, NCDC, Maia Japaridze, FIND

Maia Tsereteli, NCDC

5:50-6:00

Summary of Day 1 and Closing Remarks

Dr. Carolyn Wester, US CDC

6:30

Reception/Dinner at Republic hosted by FIND