In the 1970s, an unknown virus was suspected for documented cases of transfusion-associated hepatitis, a phenomenon called non-A, non-B hepatitis. In 1989, the infectious transmissible agent was identified and named hepatitis C virus (HCV) and, soon enough, the first diagnostic HCV antibody test was developed, which led to a dramatic decrease in new infections. Today, HCV infection remains a global health burden and a major cause of liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and liver transplantation. However, tremendous advances have been made over the decades, and HCV became the first curable, chronic viral infection. The introduction of direct antiviral agents revolutionized antiviral treatment, leading to viral eradication in more than 98% of all patients infected with HCV. This Perspective discusses the history of HCV research, which reads like a role model for successful translational research: starting from a clinical observation, specific therapeutic agents were developed, which finally were implemented in national and global elimination programmes.

在 1970 年代，一种未知病毒被怀疑与输血相关肝炎的记录病例有关，这种现象称为非甲非乙型肝炎。1989 年，传染性传播因子被确定并命名为丙型肝炎病毒 (HCV)，很快，第一个诊断性 HCV 抗体测试被开发出来，导致新感染急剧减少。今天，HCV 感染仍然是全球健康负担，也是肝硬化、肝细胞癌和肝移植的主要原因。然而，几十年来取得了巨大进步，HCV 成为第一种可治愈的慢性病毒感染。直接抗病毒药物的引入彻底改变了抗病毒治疗，导致超过 98% 的 HCV 感染患者的病毒根除。该观点讨论了 HCV 研究的历史，