Working Groups

Leader:

Sindee Weinbaum –

Members:

Richard Hall –

Lone McColaugh –

Tarja Teitto-Tuckett –

Eduardo Lopez –

Dr. Teresa Casanovas Taltavull M.D. –

Leader:

Milan Mishkovikj –

Members:

Lone McColaugh –

Sindee Weinbaum –

Marko Korenjak –

Leader:

Julio Burman –

Members:

Dr. Teresa Casanovas Taltavull M.D. –

Yiannoula Koulla –

Leader:

Aleksey Lakhov – 

Members:

Philip Spalding –

Leader:

Dr Tove Frisch Ph.D. –

Members:

Dr Teresa Casanovas Taltavull M.D. –

Eduardo López –

Prof Dr Gamal Shiha M.D.  –

Sindee Weinbaum –

Richard Hall –

Dr Hilal Unalmiş Duda Ph.D. –

Prof Dr Soo Aleman M.D., Ph.D. –

Dr Erik Baecklund –

Penilla Gunther –

Farhad Khaghani Iran –

Esso Ouro-Nimini Togo –

Leader:

Yiannoula Koulla –

Members:

Lone McColaugh –

Sindee Weinbaum –

Tarja Teitto-Tuckett –

Veronika Všetíčková –

Dr. Teresa Casanovas Taltavull M.D. –

Dr. Reham Soliman M.D. –

Selly Sickout –

Leader:

Ivana Dragojevic –

Members:

Julio Burman –

Marko Korenjak –

Who We Are

The Working Group on Hepatitis B and D is a dedicated team of patient advocates within the European Liver Patients Association (ELPA). We work to amplify the voices of individuals living with hepatitis B and D, ensuring their needs are at the center of policies and initiatives. Our mission is to support ELPA’s efforts by raising awareness, promoting prevention, enabling early diagnosis, and improving treatment and care. Through collaboration with European institutions, professional organisations, and communities, we aim to drive impactful change and reduce the stigma associated with hepatitis B and D.

Vision
We envision a Europe free from hepatitis B and D, where patients have equitable access to timely diagnosis, effective treatments, and comprehensive support. Rooted in ELPA’s values, we strive to eliminate hepatitis B abd D as a public health issue through collaboration, patient-centred innovation, and advocacy. Our ultimate goal is to ensure a future where every individual affected by hepatitis B is empowered, supported, and free from stigma.

Mission
Aligned with ELPA’s mission, the Hepatitis B Working Group is committed to engaging patients as active partners in the fight against hepatitis B and D. We focus on raising awareness, advancing prevention strategies, fostering early detection, and improving treatment outcomes. By providing evidence-based recommendations, supporting research, and advocating for equitable healthcare policies, we ensure that the patient perspective remains central to every step toward eliminating hepatitis B and D.

Leader:

Ivana Dragojević –

Ivana Dragojević is the President of the Liver Patient Association HRONOS, and currently serves as Vice-President and Treasurer of the European Liver Patients’ Association (ELPA). A former hepatitis C (HCV) patient, Ivana brings lived experience to her work, amplifying the voice of patients in national, European, and global health dialogues. With over a decade of leadership in public health and patient advocacy, she is actively engaged in efforts to eliminate hepatitis and improve liver care. She has held key positions in numerous advisory and governing bodies, including as Co-Chair of the ACHIEVE Coalition, Board Member of the World Hepatitis Alliance (2017–2019), and member of the European Cancer Organization’s Patient Advisory Committee, the International Liver Cancer Movement, and the Viral Hepatitis Prevention Board (VHPB). Her education, program management, and arts background brings a unique, human-centred perspective to her collaborations with patients, healthcare professionals, and policymakers.

Members:

Marinela Debu –

Marinela Debu contributes to the ELPA Working Group on Hepatitis B and D with a strong focus on patient advocacy, awareness, and policy development. She has been the President of the Romanian Association for Patients with Liver Diseases (APAH-RO) since 2009, coordinating national campaigns such as World Hepatitis Day and supporting the development of Romania’s National Plan for the Elimination of Viral Hepatitis. Marinela is also a regular speaker at medical and patient events and previously served on ELPA’s Board from 2015 to 2020.

Zdenko Simonović –

Zdenko Simonović actively contributes to the ELPA Working Group on Hepatitis B and D, focusing on improving patient access to care, raising awareness, and reducing stigma associated with viral hepatitis. He is engaged in both national and international efforts to support people living with hepatitis B and D, and also takes part in broader initiatives related to hepatitis C and other liver diseases. Zdenko is the president of The Chronic Viral Hepatitis Patients Association – B18 in Bosnia and Herzegovina since its founding in 2004, and has been a member of ELPA since 2006.

Dr. Vesna Lučić- Samardžija M.D. –

Dr. Vesna Lučić Samardžija contributes to the ELPA Working Group on Hepatitis B and D with over 20 years of experience in public health and preventive medicine. As an epidemiologist, she brings expertise in infection control, program management, and biosafety, along with a strong commitment to international collaboration. Her involvement in initiatives with WHO and other global partners supports her mission to improve hepatitis prevention and public health outcomes across the region.

Dr. Reham Soliman M.D –

Dr. Riham Soliman, M.D., Ph.D. is a Consultant in Hepatology at the Gastroenterology Department, North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust. She serves as a Lecturer of Tropical Medicine at Port Said University, Egypt. From 2011 to 2022, she worked as a Consultant at the Egyptian Liver Research Institute. She leads the “Educate, Test & Treat” programme, providing hepatitis care across 73+ villages using a same-day test-and-treat model for HCV and HBV. She received the Rosalyn and Leo Fried Memorial Award from AASLD and the Raymond Schinazi Scholarship at the Global Hepatitis Summit in 2023. She is committed to liver disease care, outreach, and education.

Selly Sickout –

Selly Sickout is an active member of the ELPA Working Group on Hepatitis B and D, bringing a decade of experience in health communication and patient advocacy. With a background in biotechnology and structural biochemistry, they have worked closely with renowned health professionals and have been involved with SOS Hepatitis since 2014, currently serving as Director. Their work is guided by a strong commitment to improving the lives of those affected by hepatitis and liver disease, with a focus on action, awareness, and lasting impact.

Jovan Dašić –

Jovan Dašić is an active member of the ELPA Working Group on Hepatitis B and D, bringing practice-based insights from Montenegro to support regional collaboration on viral hepatitis. At 4Life, a Montenegrin CSO focused on drug use prevention and liver health, he serves as Program Director, advancing equitable access to care, early diagnostics, and prevention, particularly among vulnerable groups. With over ten years of experience in health-related civil society, he has been involved in tobacco control policy, social accountability in healthcare, and Montenegro’s COVID-19 response. His background spans advocacy and strategic communication, with a focus on forging partnerships across civil society, public institutions, and international networks.

Leader:

Marko Korenjak –

Members:

Julio Burman –