About ACT-HBV® : Created to meet the information needs of health care providers involved in the care of patients who are infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV)</span>

ACT-HBV® : Advancing the Clinical Treatment of Hepatitis B Virus

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Introduction

The ACT-HBV^® Initiative was created to meet the information needs of physicians and other health care providers involved in the care of patients who are infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) or who are at risk for infection. The ACT-HBV^® Initiative was introduced in the United States in 2004 and was expanded to the Asia-Pacific region in early 2005.

Mission

The mission of the ACT-HBV^® Initiative is to improve patients' quality of care and outcomes by educating health care providers on the most current information pertaining to HBV. The Initiative's efforts focus on timely education of physicians and other health care providers who manage patients with HBV infection, including dissemination of the latest diagnostic and treatment recommendations. The ACT-HBV^® Web site is a key tool for accomplishing this mission.

Objectives

The strategic objectives of the ACT-HBV^® Initiative are to engage HBV experts to:

	Discuss key issues, new and emerging clinical trial results, and diagnostic and treatment advances in HBV

	Discuss these issues and advances in the context of additional or updated information to the current recommendations and published treatment guidelines for HBV

	Discuss, plan the development of, and implement educational programs and activities designed to communicate information on HBV to target audiences, including: Gastroenterologists Hepatologists Infectious disease specialists Primary care physicians Other health care providers who manage patients with, or at risk for, HBV infection

	Champion educational efforts in HBV and serve as advocates for patients

We are grateful to Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Gilead Sciences for providing independent educational grants in support of the ACT-HBV^® Initiative.

ACT-HBV^® United States

The ACT-HBV^® Initiative in the United States is overseen by an Expert Council composed of 13 leaders in the field of hepatitis B. Three Special Committees―addressing the informational needs of hepatologists/gastroenterologists, infectious disease specialists, and primary care physicians―each consist of both Expert Council members as well as additional physicians representing that area of expertise. These Special Committees provide direction and develop the clinical content for educational programs tailored to their target audiences. The Expert Council and Special Committee members are listed below.

Expert Council Members
Emmet B. Keeffe, MD (Chairman)
Robert G. Gish, MD
Maureen Jonas, MD
T. Jake Liang, MD
Yun-Fan Liaw, MD
Stephen A. Locarnini, MD, PhD, FRC
Anna S.F. Lok, MD
Patrick Marcellin, MD
Brian J. McMahon, MD
Robert P. Perrillo, MD
Richard A. Proctor, MD
David L. Thomas, MD
Myron J. Tong, PhD, MD

Special Committee Members

Hepatology/Gastroenterology
Robert P. Perrillo, MD (Chairman)
Emmet B. Keeffe, MD
William M. Lee, MD
Yun-Fan Liaw, MD
Stephen A. Locarnini, MD, PhD, FRC
Anna S.F. Lok, MD
Patrick Marcellin, MD
Marion Peters, MD

Infectious Diseases
David L. Thomas, MD (Chairman)
Douglas T. Dieterich, MD
T. Jake Liang, MD
Patrick J. Lynch, MD
Barbara McGovern, MD
Richard A. Proctor, MD
Douglas D. Richman, MD
Kenneth E. Sherman, MD, PhD
Chloe L. Thio, MD
Ronald Wasserman, MD
Lory D. Wiviott, MD

Primary Care
Brian J. McMahon, MD (Chairman)
Robert G. Gish, MD
Hie-Won Hann, MD
Maureen Jonas, MD
Hal S. Margolis, MD
Myron J. Tong, MD
Naoky Tsai, MD
Thomas Tsang, MD, MPH
Susan Wang, MD, MPH

ACT-HBV^® Asia-Pacific

The Asia-Pacific ACT-HBV^® Initiative is led by a Steering Committee composed of 18 leaders in the field of hepatitis B from the Asia-Pacific region. The Steering Committee members provide direction for educational programs targeted to physicians and other health care providers in the Asia-Pacific region. Additionally, the Steering Committee members oversee local country-specific chapters of ACT-HBV^® in order to address specific educational and informational needs of each country. The Asia-Pacific Steering Committee members are listed below.

Professor Stephen A. Locarnini (Chairman)

Australia
Professor Stephen A. Locarnini

China
Professor Zhuang Hui
Professor Jidong Jia
Professor Guangbi Yao

Hong Kong
Professor Nancy Wai-Lee Leung

India
Professor Shiv K. Sarin

Indonesia
Professor Laurentius A. Lesmana

Japan
Professor Masao Omata

Korea
Professor Dong-Jin Suh
Professor Seung-Kew Yoon

Malaysia
Datuk Doctor Ismail Merican

Pakistan
Professor S. M. Wasim Jafri

Philippines
Professor Jose D. Sollano

Singapore
Doctor Richard Guan

Taiwan
Professor Ting-Tsung Chang
Professor Yun-Fan Liaw

Thailand
Professor Varocha Mahachai

Vietnam
Professor Pham Hoang Phiet




		The ACT-HBV Initiative in the United States is supported by independent educational grants from Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Gilead Sciences. The ACT-HBV Initiative in the Asia-Pacific Region is supported by independent educational grants from Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Novartis Pharma AG.