Introduction
The Sustainable Health Unit (SUSTAINIT) is highlighting its researchers in the series, Researcher on Centre Stage. Meet Asgeir Johannessen - working towards the elimination of hepatitis B in Africa. Over the past years, his team has established treatment programs for more than 10,000 people with hepatitis B in Ethiopia. Data is used from these programs to study who needs treatment to avoid developing complications. Moreover, they collaborate with basic scientists to understand the immune responses to hepatitis B virus in the search for new and more effective treatment options.
What made you interested in this topic?
I started my research career in Tanzania looking into simplified treatment for HIV/AIDS. Then I discovered that hepatitis B had a lot in common with HIV/AIDS, except that it was completely neglected and under-funded.
Is there a particular event, situation or person that inspired you to take this path?
I think I was inspired by the absence of attention on what I discovered was a huge public health concern.
How can this research contribute to solving challenges within sustainable health?
254 million people are living with chronic hepatitis B, and without treatment roughly 20% of them will die due to its complications. Many governments in low-income countries are hesitant to offer life-long treatment to so many people, and therefore it is important to find simple and inexpensive tests to identify the 20% who needs treatment.
Do you have any advice to students that aim for an academic career within sustainable health?
Find a field that you are passionate about - and a good supervisor!
Publication in the research field
In this paper, we identified the best non-invasive test to identify liver injury among patients with hepatitis B in Africa. This work led to a revision of the World Health Organization guidelines.
Asgeir Johannessen