Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)

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Hepatitis C virus (HCV) belongs to a family of five viruses, along with Hepatitis A and B, that target the liver and cause inflammation. HCV is currently the most common bloodborne infection in the United States, and most individuals who are exposed, will remain infected with the virus throughout their lifetime.  As a result of chronic infection with HCV, this virus is known to cause long-term liver damage and disease including severe scarring of the liver (or cirrhosis) and liver cancer. 

Unlike Hepatitis A and B, there are currently no vaccines for preventing infection with HCV. Effective treatment of HCV is complicated by the fact that over 70% of infected individuals do not experience any significant symptoms of illness in the short-term after exposure, and remain unaware that they have the virus.  Furthermore, current drugs used to treat chronic HCV are not effective for every person and may cause severe side effects.    

The researchers and physicians at Stanford University are working to understand the pathogenesis of the virus by taking a multidisciplinary approach and designing highly innovative ways to study HCV.  The complimentary expertise at ITI will facilitate an improved ability to not only treat patients, but also to prevent long-term morbidity, while providing insight into new potential vaccines.

Patient Care

Liver Transplant Services at Stanford Hospital & Clinics

To learn more about what we are doing at Stanford Learn More »

ITI Working Group

GI Digestive Disease Research/Clinical Seminar Series: Clinical case presentations, research talks, and journal discussions.

The group meets every Wednesday at 4:30pm in LKSC, Room LK005.

Our Faculty