Thomas Tu leads his own research group at Westmead Institute for Medical Research in Sydney. Thomas Tu’s mission to understand hepatitis B is a deeply personal one. The research scientist was just 14 when he discovered he had chronic hepatitis B — a viral infection that causes liver inflammation — during a routine blood test. Now 33, Dr Tu has dedicated his career to researching the illness, which affects 257 million people worldwide. "I converted my hepatitis diagnosis into fuel to drive towards my life’s passion — passion for my work," Dr Tu said. In Australia, it’s estimated 221,000 people are living with chronic hepatitis B, about a third of whom remain undiagnosed. Only around 9 per cent are receiving treatment — significantly less than thought to be eligible. Hepatitis B, or hep B, is the most common blood-borne virus in Australia, and a leading cause of liver cancer. […]