NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre

Enabling translational research through partnership

MENUMENU
  • About
    • About the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre
    • NIHR Oxford BRC impact
    • Steering Committee
    • Promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in research
    • Current Vacancies
    • Stay in Touch
    • Contact Us
  • Research

        • Research Overview
        • Clinical Research Facility
        • Health Economics
        • Ethics in the NIHR Oxford BRC
        • Medical Statistics
        • Infections in Oxfordshire Database (IORD)
        • 15 Research Themes

        • Cancer
        • Cardiovascular Medicine
        • Digital Health from Hospital to Home
        • Gene and Cell Therapy
        • Genomic Medicine
        • Imaging
        • Inflammation across Tissues
        • Life-saving Vaccines
        • Metabolic Experimental Medicine
        • Modernising Medical Microbiology and Big Infection Diagnostics
        • Musculoskeletal
        • Preventive Neurology
        • Respiratory Medicine
        • Surgical Innovation, Technology and Evaluation
        • Translational Data Science
  • Patient and Public Involvement
    • For patients and the public
    • For researchers
    • More information
  • Training Hub
    • Training Hub Overview
    • Clinical Academic Pathway
    • Internships
    • Pre-doctoral Research Fellowships
    • Senior Research Fellowships
    • Research Training Bursaries
    • Doctoral Awards
    • Post-Doctoral Awards
    • PARC Programme
    • Other funding
    • Leadership Training
    • Useful Links
    • Training and Education Resources
    • Upcoming Training Events & Courses
  • Industry
    • Collaborate with Oxford BRC
    • Who Do We Work With?
    • Events
    • Further Information and Additional Resources
    • Contacts for Industry
  • Videos
  • News
  • Events

News

You are here: Home > Translational Data Science > Clinical data project leads to potential advance in understanding of chronic hepatitis B

Clinical data project leads to potential advance in understanding of chronic hepatitis B

26 June 2019 · Listed under Translational Data Science

Researchers and clinicians in Oxford have provided fresh insights into how some people with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) can be cleared of the disease, as part of a national initiative to better use NHS patient data to tackle emerging health issues.

It is hoped that the research, the first study on CHB under the auspices of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Informatics Collaborative (HIC), could lead to a better understanding of the immunology of the virus and help lead to improved monitoring and treatment of patients.

The NIHR-HIC brings together all 20 NIHR Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs) and their associated and partner NHS hospital trusts to utilise routinely collected clinical data to tackle important therapeutic areas.

Infection with hepatitis B virus causes potentially life-threatening liver disease and is considered a major global health problem. There are 292 million people chronically infected with the virus worldwide, eight times more than those who are HIV-positive. Almost 900,000 people die each year from hepatitis B-related complications such as cirrhosis and liver cancer.

An international target to eliminate hepatitis B by the year 2030 has been agreed, meaning advances in the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of the infection are urgently required.

The NIHR Oxford BRC-supported study explored why a small proportion of people with CHB ‘clear’ the virus, whether they were on medication or not, while the overwhelming majority have to live with it for the rest of their lives.

“At the moment, we are not able to predict which patients will ‘clear’ CHB infection,” said Dr Philippa Matthews (pictured), Associate Professor at the University of Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Medicine, who led the study.

Of 553 individuals in the Oxford area with CHB, follow-up clinical data were available for 319. Of these, 13 were cleared of the protein biomarkers used to detect the virus – whether they were on anti-hepatitis B drugs or not.

“Studying the routinely-collected patient data, we tracked two protein biomarkers that are used to monitor chronic hepatitis B infection, looking for clues as to why some people clear the virus. If we can identify and understand the immunological factors that underpin that ‘clearance’, it could pave the way for us to better understand the different outcomes of infection, and also to develop better monitoring and new treatments,” Dr Matthews, who is also funded by the Wellcome Trust, said.

“What has been crucial here has been the use of routinely-collected electronic clinical data. We have shown that this has a huge potential for collating large datasets that can help to inform advances in patient care – including a more personalised approach. We’ve seen that it works here in Oxford, and now we hope to be able to use this process in the other NIHR HIC centres.”

Initially, five NIHR HIC centres, which serve a population of around 20 million people, focused on delivering high-quality data in five key therapeutic areas: acute coronary syndromes, ovarian cancer, viral hepatitis, renal transplantation and intensive care. More emerging health issues have been included in the initiative, with data now being collected for patients with prostate, breast, colorectal and lung cancer, as well as a wider range of infectious diseases.

← Stroke deaths in England halved in ten years, study finds
Achieving Type 2 diabetes treatment targets would improve health and reduce healthcare costs →

Other news

News Categories

News by Month

See all news

Subscribe to the Oxford BRC Newsletter

Keep informed about the work of the Oxford BRC by subscribing to our Mailchimp e-newsletter. It is produced several times a year and delivers news and information about upcoming events straight to your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Feedback

We’d love to hear your feedback. Please contact us at [email protected]

Oxford BRC on Social Media

  • Bluesky
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Threads
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Data Control and Privacy
  • Accessibility
  • Our Partners
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact

Copyright © 2025 NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre