Background:
To close knowledge gaps around hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Africa, a multi-country research collaboration was formed. Here we summarize the initial outputs of the collaboration and direction for the future.

Methods:
Following the 2020 COLDA, HEPSANET was established. Major groups implementing longitudinal HBV cohorts in Africa signed a data-sharing agreement and undertook an initial data sharing exercise that focused on baseline, cross-sectional, pre-treatment data from PLHBV. HEPSANET has now moved into harmonization of longitudinal data and added additional sites. A codebook was created to harmonize existing electronic or paper data at site level. A REDCap database (in French and English) was created for sites with paper data. All PLHBV who sought care at least once at the sites were included. A final cohort outcome (alive and retained, transferred, died, withdrew, or lost to follow-up [LTFU]), was assigned to each PLHBV. Phone and physical tracing were attempted for all LTFU. Sites using the REDCAP received additional mentorship through a series of data quality meetings.

Results:
At baseline, among 4,173 PLHBV analyzed (1118-East, 923-Southern, and 2132-West Africa), median age was 34 years, 38.9% were women, and 81.3% were diagnosed with HBV infection through targeted asymptomatic testing. 90.4% were HBeAg-negative and 14.3% had cirrhosis based on median liver stiffness =9.5 kPa. Approximately half of non-cirrhotic untreated PLHBV had an ‘indeterminate’ clinical phenotype (either elevated ALT with HBV DNA