Science can be a catalyst for the realisation of human rights and human rights can accelerate the translation of scientific knowledge into practice and policy. The overarching and ambitious aim of ICORN is to promote and advocate for equitable access of HCV therapy and care for all infected patients and to lead the political theme of disease eradication over the next decade – C It Off 2025. Key to the success of the Network is the active engagement of clinicians, researchers, patient representatives, policy makers and others involved in the clinical care of, and advocacy for patients infected with Hepatitis C.
We propose to mature the strong foundation of the Network to maximise its effectiveness in meeting our immediate, medium and long-term objectives. The work packages and respective work streams will deliver an ambitious transformative population-based health programme. We propose to expand the present HCV treatment registry to a disease registry creating a dataset that strengthens our scientific excellence by integrating at national level the critical mass of a patient cohort and the clinical expertise to provide Irish leadership in European and international funding opportunities.
This disease registry will furthermore enable Ireland to be internationally competitive in attracting pharma-sponsored multicentre trials to Ireland. To maximise registry outcomes, the Network will develop strategies to enhance case ascertainment by studying differing strategies addressing universal and enhanced targeted testing in Emergency Departments, and in GP practices with both Irish-born and migrant populations. The combination of robust datasets and optimised case ascertainment will allow the Network to develop an innovative community-based model of care that ensures optimal delivery of care to a maximum patient number whilst retaining equity of access, antiviral stewardship and optimised cost utilisation. These combined work streams will consolidate the overarching Network aim of disease eradication over the next decade.
