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Professors Joern Shcattenberg and Vlad Ratziu join the Surfers to discuss the lessons and findings we can take away from Digital ILC 2020.

What happens when seven people with diverse and divergent perspectives consider the implications of last week's Digital ILC meeting? Professors Vlad Ratziu and Joern Schattenberg join the Surfers to reflect on many insights, some leading to clashing outlooks. From Peter Traber's opening comments about the increasing convergence and energy around NASH to a closing discussion on how a finding on that liver disease is, in fact, the leading cause of mortality in NAFLD patients (a finding that, in the words of one Surfer, "stood things on their head," ) this was a rollicking, passionate conversation with equal parts agreement, challenge, mutual respect and, of course, humor. Listen twice to get all the small points!

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SurfingNASH's Digital ILC coverage ends with three late-breaking drug presentations, a discussion of EASL's COVID efforts, and insights on patient management.

Professor Joern Schattenberg joins the Surfers to discuss the last day of Digital ILC. Donna Cryer and Roger Green praise the work EASL has done pulling together data and analysis on how #liverdisease affects #COVID19 treatment decisions and outcomes, while Louise Campbell discusses research-in-process and Stephen, Peter Traber and Prof. Dr. Jörn M. Schattenberg discuss two exciting drugs in development and combination therapy that teaches us lessons about underlying liver dysfunction. In the end, Donna discusses GLI's "Beyond the Biopsy" initiative. This episode is knowledge-dense but entertaining... and totally a "can't miss" episode!

Browse Our NASH and COVID-19 Coverage https://surfingnash.com/covid-19/

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Drugs in development and diagnostics show promise but healthcare has far to go in identifying and treating patients in need.

Professor Vlad Ratziu joins the Surfers to discuss Day Two's presentation. The day produced exciting presentations about drugs in development and suggestive findings of the role non-invasive tests and markers can play in predicting patient success. At the same time, other presentations focused on the challenges and opportunities involved in identifying and treating patients earlier in the course of the disease. The group explored issues in detail, leading to a longer conversation that was both thoughtful and rollicking. SPOILER ALERT: Four of the six Surfers made some form of reference to the Bible...

Today's podcast is sponsored by Sonic Incytes Medical Corp., manufacturer of Velacur™. Velacur™ is the first handheld 3D liver health assessment tool that is fast, accurate, intelligent, and portable. A 25-minute discussion with George Aliphteras, CEO of Sonic Incytes and Dr. Michael Curry, lead author of poster FRI-050, which discusses Velacur, starts at 1:22:11 and runs ~26 minutes.

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One day into the first-ever digital major conference, the Surfers review six presentations and one interactive session. A lot was learned, much of which did not fit into neat categories.

The Surfers and guest Naim Alkhouri reviewed six presentations and one interactive session formally (points from other presentations crept in once or twice). Like the day itself, the group came to a few clear conclusions or consensus, except that AI/machine learning has a larger role to play going forward and that liver biopsy will play a pivotal role in the foreseeable future. This session runs well over an hour but is packed with information, insights, and questions.

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The group discusses the plusses and minuses of digital conferences compared to traditional in-person events.

Digital ILC starts Thursday, August 27. Donna Cryer, who oversaw the first Digital International NASH Day this year, and Stephen Harrison, who co-chairs NASH-TAG, discuss the factors that organizers consider when deciding whether to go digital and planning how to make it work. The discussion reveals some powerful benefits for a digital meeting in terms of how many people and which new groups can attend, as well as drawbacks in terms of spontaneity and events that build personal bridges and unusual ideas. You will never look at any kind of major meeting the same way after you listen to this.

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The second part of the "What NASH patients want" series focuses on the future of healthcare apps and the role government agencies such as FDA, NIH, CMS, and EMEA can play in providing hope or increasing concern and anxiety based on their decisions and the consistency of their messages. In discussing apps, Fatty Liver Foundation President Wayne Eskridge, a trained electrical engineer, envisions a future when patients can receive continuous readings on key metrics using an implanted device that derives its power by burning the patient's glucose or fat, while the other Surfers lend their own thoughts and perspectives. In discussing the government, GLI President & CEO Donna Cryer and Wayne Eskridge discuss the need for the government to take an integrated approach to liver health. Specific points of action include two proposed pieces of legislation( the Liver Illness Visibility Act ad the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act) and the idea that all the relevant institutes within NIH would work on an integrated plan for liver disease. Finally, the Surfers discuss the need for the FDA to act from a place of transparency and patient engagement, particularly around the risk: benefit ratio for new medicines. Again, the other Surfers ask questions and share ideas. The music from Jeff Ramsdale provides a fantastic exit note.

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Patient advocates discuss how doctors and other providers can serve patient needs better

Guest surfer Anthony Villiotti, President of NASH kNOWledge, Inc. joins the Surfers. Tony and Surfer Donna Cryer, President & CEO of Global Liver Institute, discuss the way that better delivery of disease information and care can keep patients healthier longer and make them more knowledgeable about their disease. Too often patients are told not to worry about a fatty liver until the day they learn they need a transplant -- this has to stop! Learn how we developed our word of the week ("indoctrinologist"), why the "What? So what? Now what?" approach would be valuable, and how timely information and coordinated care will lead to better patient outcomes.

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Donna Cryer, President & CEO of the Global Liver Institute, and Louise Campbell, Founder of Tawazun Health, become Surfing regulars in an episode focused on the pivotal papers at EASL's Digital ILC meeting August 27-29. The group discusses the section addressing COVID-19 and liver disease links along with presentations and posters discussing use of FibroScan, AI-aided test analysis, reducing cardiovascular risk by treating NAFLD and evaluating liver fibrosis in diabetes workups. The group also discussed cultural issues in NASH patient education and answer a letter about supporting Fatty Liver treatment in Africa. A truly multi-disciplinary look at this important meeting. THIS WEEK'S MUSIC: Mr. Parr is a musician and a 6th-grade teacher in Franklin Lakes, NJ, who produces music to teach students different elements of science. He is a two-time teacher of the year winner whose songs have been played on the Weather Channel, YouTube and Science Curriculum networks. You can find his songs through teacherspayteachers.com.

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The Surfers focus on steps Allied Health Professions and passionate physicians can take to improve lifestyle compliance with #NASH and #NAFLD therapies. The group explores whether the healthcare system can be as effective as companies like Noom and WeightWatchers. This week's Music from the Liver Community: beautiful Oud music from Dr. Naim Alkhouri.

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FOCUS: Some of the presentations that will make NASH/NAFLD news next month

Transplant hepatologist Naim Alkhouri joins the Surfers in discussing a dozen intriguing paper or session titles listed as part of the scientific program at next month’s Digital International Liver Congress. The discussion touches briefly on SurfingNASH’s plans for expanded Digital ILC coverage and even features a two-minute blues song from pharmaceutical economist and chart-busting blues artist Michissippi Mick Kolassa.