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AASLD Foundation presents grants to young hepatologists for research, careers
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The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases Foundation has granted $3.42 million in research and career development awards to 29 researchers and clinicians to conduct liver disease research and undergo advanced hepatology training.
Healio Gastroenterology and Liver Disease spoke with the AASLD Foundation chair, Bruce R. Bacon, MD, FAASLD, about the details of these awards, the recipients, and potential future projects supported by the grants.
“What these awards do is provide critical funding for new and innovative liver research, encouraging investigators new to the field and increasing access to training for hepatologists so they can provide the best care for their patients,” he said.
The 2019 AASLD Foundation award recipients were selected from a “highly competitive applicant pool by a committee of academic and clinical specialists, physicians and advanced practice providers in the fields of hepatology and transplant hepatology,” according to a release from the foundation.
Bacon explained further that the awards were granted for multiple types of programs including basic science, clinical investigation and clinical training — and for different subspecialties such as autoimmune liver disease or becoming an expert in the field of liver transplantation.
In addition to the research and career development awards, the Foundation announced it will invest more than $175,000 in travel awards this fall, including the Emerging Liver Scholars Program and the Abstract Travel Awards, which enable young investigators to present their work at The Liver Meeting in November.
Bacon explained that AASLD along with the AASLD Foundation have committed more than $50 million since the year 2000 to invest in innovative programs and the next generation of hepatologists.
“We will continue to look for sources of fundraising and continue inviting applications for a whole variety of clinical work, as part of our goal to improve the field of hepatology,” he said.
Disclosure: Bacon is the chair of the AASLD Foundation.
Editor's note: The article was updated with corrected information for the disclosure.