Michael Houghton is the new Canada Excellence Research Chair in Virology

The hepatitis B and C viruses, particularly as spread through ways other than transfusion, still represent major health problems in Canada and around the world, despite significant advancements in blood-screening techniques. In Canada, it is estimated that there are 300000 carriers of each hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV). Worldwide, these numbers have reached 350 million and 170 million, respectively. Currently, there is no vaccine for HCV, and existing treatment methods only work for about half of infected patients. While there is a vaccine to prevent HBV, patients with a chronic infection often need to stay on long-term anti-viral treatments that lead to drug-resistance and ultimately end in permanent liver damage. Building on the knowledge he gained while making his breakthrough discovery of the virus that causes HCV, and his identification of the hepatitis D viral genome, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Virology Michael Houghton will work to develop low-cost prophylactic vaccines against HCV, and therapeutic vaccines against HBV. Through experimental trials using chimeric mice with human liver, as well as through woodchuck infection models, Houghton hopes to improve current HBV treatment methods and significantly reduce how long treatment takes. Another major focus of Houghtons work will be using his experience in virus discovery to investigate a potential infectious basis for various human diseases that have so far remained uncharacterized. Houghtons commitment to …
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