AASLD invests $3.34 million for disease research, career development

The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases Foundation announced it will invest a total of $3.34 million in grants to 25 researchers and clinicians to conduct innovative research into liver diseases and for advanced hepatology training, according to a press release from the organization.

“Liver disease continues to be a critical health care issue in the United States and internationally,” Bruce R. Bacon, MD, FAASLD, the AASLD Foundation chair, said in the release. “Despite recent strides and successes in the treatment of many liver diseases, AASLD Foundation understands there is still much work to be done and more funding must be made available to those interested in hepatology.”

A committee of hepatology and transplant hepatology specialists, physicians and associate health care practitioners will select the 2017 grant recipients.

This year’s investment is $780,000 more than the foundation’s investment in 2016 and is the third largest commitment in the foundation’s history. The foundation will also invest an additional $72,000 toward travel awards in the fall for the recipients to present their work at The Liver Meeting.

“Since 2000, more than $42 million has been committed by AASLD, and now its foundation, to invest in innovative hepatology research and in the people who study and treat liver disease,” Bacon concluded. – by Talitha Bennett

Reference: www.aasld.org