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In honor of National Hepatitis Testing Day:
#justB storyteller David featured on TV series
| | | | In honor of National Hepatitis Testing Day, we were proud to spotlight David, a remarkable voice from the Hepatitis B Foundation’s #justB storytelling program. David is featured in a new episode of Medical Stories, an Emmy award-winning docuseries that airs on public TV nationwide, and he shared his deeply personal journey of living with hepatitis B. | | Diagnosed as a teenager, David initially faced profound confusion and mental health struggles. His story highlights the critical intersection of physical and mental health, illustrating how a lack of information and support can lead to isolation. | | |
As part of the Storytellers in Action program, David is dedicated to:
- Ensuring that those affected by hepatitis B are heard by policymakers and the global health community.
- Using empathy to break down the social barriers that prevent people from seeking care.
- Promoting the urgent need for political and social action to eliminate hepatitis B by 2030.
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Leading on the Global Stage
David’s advocacy extends far beyond his online story. He has been a participant at international events and within major health organizations:
- World Hepatitis Summit in Geneva
- National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR)
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Patient-Focused Drug Developmen collaboration with the FDA
| | David’s story is a testament to the power of finding one's voice. This Hepatitis Awareness Month, we encourage everyone to learn their status and join us in the fight to eliminate hepatitis B. | | | May is Hepatitis Awareness Month | | |
This month the Hepatitis B Foundation is working to further raise awareness around hepatitis B. Often called a “silent killer,” chronic HBV affects an estimated 2.4 million people in the U.S., many of whom are unaware of their status until liver damage occurs.
The good news? With increased awareness, testing, and access to care, we can change the narrative. This month is all about three simple steps: Test, Vaccinate and Treat.
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Why We Raise Our Voices
Chronic hepatitis B is the leading risk factor for liver cancer. Those infected face a 25-40% lifetime risk of developing liver cancer. Early diagnosis through a simple blood test and treatment can significantly reduce these risks.
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Media Toolkit for Action
We’ve gathered the best resources for patients, providers and advocates to help spread the word this month.
| | | Hepatitis B Foundation calls for urgent investment to save lives | | |
Chari Cohen, DrPH, MPH
President,
Hepatitis B Foundation
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The World Health Organization's new Global Hepatitis Report 2026 makes one thing clear: the world still is failing people living with viral hepatitis, most commonly hepatitis B.
Despite having the tools necessary to save lives – an effective vaccine, reliable diagnostics and viral suppressing treatment – WHO warns that current rates of progress are insufficient and that the world is not on track to eliminate hepatitis B without a rapid scale-up of testing, treatment and prevention efforts.
“Every year of delay means more preventable infections, more missed diagnoses and more families losing loved ones to a disease we can prevent and treat,” said Dr. Chari Cohen, Hepatitis B Foundation president. “This report is a wake-up call: governments must stop treating hepatitis B as an afterthought and start funding the response at the scale the crisis demands.”
| | Share your voice on the Foundation's new quality-of-life survey | | | | |
The Hepatitis B Foundation is seeking participants for a new research study titled HepB PROACTive (Hepatitis B: Patient-Reported Outcomes, Adherence and Quality-of-Life Tracking).
The goal of this program is to better understand the daily experiences, treatment challenges and overall well-being of individuals living with chronic hepatitis B.
We're seeking adults age 18+ with hepatitis B living anywhere in the world.
| | 2025 Annual Report: New initiatives, new stories & new challenges | | | | |
The Hepatitis B Foundation is proud to announce that our 2025 Annual Report is now available! This year’s report highlights the incredible progress we have made together in research, global outreach, and public health advocacy.
Thank you for being a vital part of our community. Your dedication helps us serve our constituents and move closer to a world without hepatitis B.
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View the report: You can read the full digital version
or download a PDF directly from our website.
| | | | Foundation president featured in NFID adult vaccination webinar | | |
Chari Cohen, DrPH, MPH
President, Hepatitis B Foundation
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"We know that hepatitis B is there. We know it's a problem in the U.S. It's highly underdiagnosed. It's highly infectious and is also a silent infection which means that prevention is incredibly important... Vaccination as prevention is not debatable.
The evidence especially for the hepatitis B vaccine is overwhelming and is there."
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The Hepatitis B Foundation is proud to share a recently recorded webinar hosted by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) featuring Foundation President Dr. Chari Cohen.
The expert panel discussion focuses on critical clinical and public health strategies to prevent hepatitis B among adults and increase the uptake of recommended vaccines across the United States.
| | Upcoming webinar: B Informed! Storytelling in hepatitis B advocacy | | | | |
Join us for Hep B United's B Informed session in recognition of Hepatitis Awareness Month.
This session will highlight the power of storytelling in hepatitis B advocacy, featuring voices from our #JustB and #BtheVoice storytellers in action and vaccine storytelling communities as they share how their stories inspire change.
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Tuesday, May 26
2 - 3 p.m. EDT
| | | New training module: Funding the fight against hepatitis | | | | |
Securing resources is one of the biggest hurdles in the global effort to eliminate viral hepatitis. To help you navigate this complex landscape, the Hepatitis B Foundation has launched a new, free online course: Funding the Fight Against Hepatitis.
Whether you are an advocate, a health care professional or community organization, this 14-lesson course is designed to equip you with the skills needed to secure funding, build powerful partnerships and advance liver health initiatives worldwide.
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- Understand the global funding ecosystem.
- Learn where to look for funding.
- Developing a proposal.
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- Build equitable, trust-based and community-led collaborations.
- Submission and peer review process.
- Best practices for reporting and communicating with funders.
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Foundation Public Health Team member receives
scholarship to attend the Prevent Cancer Dialogue
| | The Hepatitis B Foundation is proud to share that Noah Trudeau, MSPH, Public Health Program Manager, was awarded a scholarship to attend the prestigious Prevent Cancer Dialogue hosted by the Prevent Cancer Foundation May 7–8, 2026, in Arlington, VA. | | |
Noah Trudeau, MSPH
Program manager, Public Health
Hepatitis B Foundation
| | The annual conference brings together dedicated public health professionals, advocates, and clinical leaders to discuss cutting-edge innovations and community-driven approaches to cancer prevention and early detection. | "It was incredibly valuable to connect with organizations leading liver cancer prevention efforts on the ground," Noah shared. "Collaborating face-to-face with several of our own Hep B United partners—such as the Health Betterment Initiative, which is doing outstanding patient navigation work, and the Midwest Asian Health Association through its Asian liver cancer prevention initiatives—underscores the power of community-led partnerships." | |
By bringing these innovative insights back to our local and global initiatives, the Foundation continues its commitment to breaking down barriers to care, ensuring that testing and education are accessible, equitable, and culturally appropriate for all.
Learn more about the event here.
| | A new research study for adults with chronic hepatitis B | | |
The B-SUPREME phase 2 study will assess the safety and effectiveness of an investigational* medicine called ALG-000184 in people with a clinical diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection:
HBV infection is a worldwide public health problem that affects 296 million people globally, and an estimated 1.1 million deaths per year are caused by HBV-related diseases (e.g., liver cancer, liver cirrhosis). Advanced liver disease occurs in 20%–30% of chronically HBV-infected adults.
You may be eligible to take part in this study if you**:
- Are between 18–65 years of age with a diagnosis of chronic HBV infection or chronic hepatitis B***
- Have either: never received HBV treatment, or have not received HBV treatment within the last 6 months before enrolling in the study
- Have never received a capsid assembly modulator (CAM) treatment
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Please read the B-SUPREME brochure for details.
If you think you might be interested in this study or would like more information to see if you are eligible, please visit: b-supremestudy.com.
| | In case you missed it: "Understanding Clinical Trials" | | |
Speaker: Yasmin Ibrahim, MD, PhD, MBA
Senior Public Health Program Director
Hepatitis B Foundation
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On April 7, 2026, Hep B United hosted a vital B Informed educational session: "Understanding Clinical Trials." During this webinar, experts and advocates explained the clinical trial process. The discussion covered what clinical trials are, why participation is so critical for advancing a hepatitis B cure, how to locate safe and reliable trial information and the essential questions patients should ask their healthcare providers.
If you were unable to join us live, or want to revisit the insights shared, you can view the presentations slides here.
| | New blog: Coping with anxiety around liver cancer monitoring | | | | |
For anyone living with chronic hepatitis B, regular health monitoring is one of the most powerful tools we have. It keeps us informed, ensures treatments are working, and helps catch potential issues like liver cancer early when it is most treatable.
Testing is important but the process of waiting for results can cause stress and anxiety. There is good news! In our latest blog, we break down evidence-based strategies to help you manage your well-being. Please read the full blog here.
| | B Heppy Podcast | Rethinking a cure for hepatitis B | | In our latest episode, hosts Anousha and Bright sit down with Dr. Chloe Thio and Dr. David Thomas, leading academic medical researchers at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Together, they discuss a groundbreaking $24 million NIH grant supporting a Johns Hopkins-led consortium dedicated entirely to finding a cure for hepatitis B. | If you find this episode insightful, you can subscribe here. | | | | |
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Highlights from this episode:
- The goals of this $24 million award and what it means for scientific acceleration.
- Why collaborative, multi-institutional science is the key to unlocking a cure.
- What this historic investment means for individuals living with hepatitis B globally.
| | | | Hepatitis B Foundation resources featured at PhilFest in Florida | | | | |
The Hepatitis B Foundation recently made an impact at PhilFest in Tampa, Florida, thanks to dedicated community advocacy and collaboration!
Allyson, a former Hepatitis B Foundation public health intern, teamed up with her fellow medical school classmates to bring vital health education and resources directly to the Filipino community. The group hosted an interactive booth at the festival, where they distributed Foundation educational materials, raised awareness about the importance of hepatitis B screening, and promoted the #justB storytelling program.
We are proud of Allyson and her classmates for volunteering their time to champion liver health and ensure that the Foundation's message of prevention, testing and storytelling reaches communities nationwide.
| | Hepatitis B Management: Guidance for the primary care provider | | Dr. Amy Tang discusses the practical hepatitis B guidance for primary care providers and non-specialists hosted on Hepatitis B Online. The updated 2025 guidance addresses prevention, diagnosis, and management of chronic hepatitis B. The simplified guidance was developed by the HBV Primary Care Workgroup, a multidisciplinary panel of national experts, to support clinical decision-making. | | | Journal article of the month | | |
Elimination in the age of retrenchment: what hepatitis
reveals about the future of global health
The Lancet Global Health
May 11, 2026
[click here]
Trudeau NM, Freeland C, Kabagambe K, Spearman WC, Okinedo P, Matthews PC
Reforms in primary health care in recent years resulted in stand-alone disease programs being folded into integrated delivery models, the authors say. Viral hepatitis elimination efforts were merged with existing HIV programs. However, the authors write, "That design is now fractured." One major reason is an $8 billion cut in funding for such work by the U.S. Agency for International Development. The authors conclude: "If hepatitis continues to orbit as a fiscal satellite of HIV, it will recede alongside HIV. However, if the current moment catapults elimination into political accountability, hepatitis could become emblematic of a post-aid paradigm grounded in self-determined stewardship."
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The Hepatitis B Foundation is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure and improving the quality of life for those affected by hepatitis B. Our commitment includes funding focused research, promoting disease awareness, supporting immunization and treatment initiatives, and serving as the primary source of information for patients and their families, the medical and scientific community and the general public. | | Learn more about our research and education programs at www.hepb.org | | | | | | |
