Exploring Novel Synergies Between Antiviral Nucleotides and Small Molecule Immunomodulators for Hepatitis B virus (HBV) Treatment

A cure of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains challenging due to the virus's persistence in the liver and its ability to evade the immune system. Current therapies, such as pegylated interferon-alpha and nucleos(t)ide analogues, can suppress the viral replication but often require lifelong treatment. A more achievable goal is a functional cure, marked by sustained HBsAg loss and undetectable HBV DNA. This doctoral project will integrate synthetic chemistry, virology, and immunology to develop novel small molecules that either inhibit HBV replication or boost immune responses, eventually studying their combined effects. The goal is to identify new therapeutic strategies to achieve a functional cure for HBV.