HCV Research UK is a UK-wide consortium established in 2011 to underpin research into hepatitis C (HCV). This was achieved by establishing a biorepository and clinical research database. The biorepository is housed in the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, directed by Dr John McLauchlan and managed by Dr Sarah McDonald. Samples have been obtained from around 10,000 patients. Access to samples and data is governed by a Tissue and Data Access Committee (TDAC). These are reviewed for ethical and scientific merit by TDAC and a decision reached. Serum and plasma are obtained from all patients in the cohort. Buffy coats are also collected, and DNA can be extracted when required. Additionally, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and PAX gene tubes are held for smaller cohorts of patients. The extensive clinical data collected complements the biorepository and allows selection of samples from patients with characteristics of interest. Sub-cohorts:

• Serial samples from patients who were treated as part of the NHS England Early Access Program.
• Yearly samples from cirrhotic patients (beginning 2015)
• Spontaneous resolvers
• Small paediatric cohort Clinical Data
• Basic demographics including place of birth and ethnicity
• History of HCV infection including exposure to risk factors and dates
• Date of diagnosis, date of first attendance at clinic
• Co-morbidities and co-medications at time of enrolment
• Liver disease status and how diagnosed
• Treatment status at enrolment;
• Social history including alcohol, cigarettes, cannabis; BMI
• HCV RNA status, viral load and genotype/subtype
• Historical data from the patients' notes regarding previous treatment episodes (dates, regimen, viral loads, outcome) and liver biopsies
• Laboratory data including imaging and fibroscan;
• New treatment episodes and changes in liver disease status are recorded over time, as are any newly developed co-morbidities. All data generated by researchers who access our biorepository must be returned into the database. Over time this will include host genetics, full length viral sequences, immunophenotyping and biomarker studies.