{"id":5996,"date":"2024-10-02T18:08:15","date_gmt":"2024-10-02T18:08:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dnc-test.myddns.me\/cda-foundation\/cdafound.org\/?page_id=5996"},"modified":"2026-06-01T01:34:07","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T01:34:07","slug":"relink","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dnc-test.myddns.me\/cda-foundation\/cdafound.org\/relink\/","title":{"rendered":"Relink Grant Program"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Relink Grant Program<\/h1>\n\n\n

Advocating for Liver Health Literacy, Inclusion, Equity, and Support<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Go to RFP<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Background<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to a recent study by U.S. CDC, more than 65% of individuals infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), and who have continuous insurance coverage (private, Medicaid or Medicare), did not initiate treatment within one year of being diagnosed.1<\/a><\/sup> This is a disturbing statistic given that current HCV treatments are curative in more than 95% of cases, they are oral treatments, and have a short duration of treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. CDC analyses also showed that for people living with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, lack of awareness of HBV infection, poor access to testing, and linkage to care remains an issue.2<\/a><\/sup>  Monitoring and treatment, while not curative, greatly reduce the risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Long-term infection with Hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV & HCV) causes chronic inflammation of the liver and ultimately liver cancer. The risk of developing cancer in individuals infected with HBV and HCV is similar to the risk of cancer in someone who currently smokes.3<\/a> <\/sup>In addition, treatment of those infected with HBV or HCV can reduce the risk of cancer by more than 75%.4<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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HCV and HBV infections are also associated with increased risk of non-Hodgkin\u2019s lymphoma, diabetes, insulin resistance, glomerulonephritis, renal insufficiency, fatigue, cognitive impairment, depression, impaired quality of life, polyarthritis, fibromyalgia, and cardiovascular disorders (i.e. stroke, ischemic heart disease).5<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A study by researchers at Mount Sinai\u2019s Icahn School of Medicine showed that reaching out to individuals who have been diagnosed but untreated can result in 31% linkage to care.6<\/sup><\/a> This groundbreaking study demonstrated that it is possible to reengage infected individual who were diagnosed but lost to follow up. Expanded treatment is required for the U.S. to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public threat before 2030.7<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Objective<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

CDA Foundation has received an eight-million-dollar grant from Gilead Sciences to distribute to sub-grantees in 2023\u20132025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The objective of the Relink program is to provide grants to find diagnosed-but-untreated HCV and HBV infected individuals and help them get linked to care.  The program is treatment agnostic and Gilead will not have any influence on the design, implementation, and the RFP process including reviewing and evaluating of proposals. Diagnosed patients can go on any treatment recommended by their doctor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Eligibility Criteria<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The following type of organizations are eligible to apply for Relink grants:<\/p>\n\n\n\n