Surfing the MASH Tsunami

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Surfing NASH extends its preview coverage of the upcoming EASL Congress with a three-part episode. This final conversation with Louise Campbell observes a paper she finds relevant to the recent NICE publishing of guidance around use of FibroScan in the primary care setting as well as International #NASHDay 2023. The presentation in reference is titled Patients with persistently abnormal liver biochemistry are under-investigated and can be rapidly identified using a novel case-finding database. Particularly, Louise notes that the paper is coming from the team of former podcast guest, Tim Jobson of Predictive Health Intelligence. The importance of being able to locate patients is underscored as critical in efforts to scan those with highest risk in the UK.

The world’s largest liver meeting takes place 21-24 June in Vienna with an international faculty of experts from over 200 institutions. The diverse program will feature 2500 abstracts and be a uniquely momentous occasion for developing multidisciplinary approaches aimed at putting a major dent in Fatty Liver disease. Stay tuned for more coverage and if you have any question or interests around the event, we kindly ask that you submit reviews wherever you download the discourse. Alternatively, you can write to us directly at [email protected].

Today’s episode is sponsored by HistoIndex, the first global company to provide stain-free, fully automated imaging solutions for visualizing and quantifying morphological and architectural features of fibrosis. HistoIndex couples breakthrough biophotonic technology with an AI-powered digital pathology system to provide consistent, high-throughput imaging in liver disease and cancer. The platform benefits clinical research and speeds development of drugs and diagnostics. For more information, visit www.histoindex.com.

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Surfing NASH extends its preview coverage of the upcoming EASL Congress with a three-part episode. This conversation continues on the theme of sessions and presentations of interest as anticipated by Louise Campbell alongside Roger Green. Louise begins by noting a poster on the causes of death in patients with NAFLD who presented on a spectrum of fibrosis stages at diagnosis. She goes on to note some fascinating conclusions of the study to tease links between liver disease and cardiovascular and extrahepatic cancer outcomes. Ultimately, Louise suggests that the evidence emerging strengthens her views on the need for stratifying NAFLD according to metabolic cardiovascular risk.

From here Louise points to a presentation by friend of the podcast Cyrielle Caussy titled Systematic screening for NAFLD-related advanced fibrosis in high-risk population in diabetology using transient elastography: a prospective study. The second leg of this conversation focuses on the paper and its implications for effective use of FIB-4 and developing our understanding of segmenting patient populations.

The world’s largest liver meeting takes place 21-24 June in Vienna with an international faculty of experts from over 200 institutions. The diverse program will feature 2500 abstracts and be a uniquely momentous occasion for developing multidisciplinary approaches aimed at putting a major dent in Fatty Liver disease. Stay tuned for more coverage and if you have any question or interests around the event, we kindly ask that you submit reviews wherever you download the discourse. Alternatively, you can write to us directly at [email protected].

Today’s episode is sponsored by HistoIndex, the first global company to provide stain-free, fully automated imaging solutions for visualizing and quantifying morphological and architectural features of fibrosis. HistoIndex couples breakthrough biophotonic technology with an AI-powered digital pathology system to provide consistent, high-throughput imaging in liver disease and cancer. The platform benefits clinical research and speeds development of drugs and diagnostics. For more information, visit www.histoindex.com.

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Surfing NASH extends its preview coverage of the upcoming EASL Congress with a three-part episode. This conversation comes from our final segment with Ian Rowe, Jörn Schattenberg and Roger Green. Jörn leads with thoughts around the Abstract session - NAFLD: Clinical Aspects. The session will touch on aspects that are, as Jörn puts it, “very close to what we're thinking today when we see patients.” He notes that topics covered around tools available now for treating and management will be of interest and utility for those seeing NASH patients. The group goes on to unpack this session before exploring presentations around pathology and developing understanding of disease staging, lean NAFLD, the role of miRNA, mitigating screening challenges and more. Jörn expresses excitement around his presentation of a poster as part of a cluster of NAIL-NIT data to emerge.

The world’s largest liver meeting takes place 21-24 June in Vienna with an international faculty of experts from over 200 institutions. The diverse program will feature 2500 abstracts and be a uniquely momentous occasion for developing multidisciplinary approaches aimed at putting a major dent in Fatty Liver disease. Stay tuned for more coverage and if you have any question or interests around the event, we kindly ask that you submit reviews wherever you download the discourse. Alternatively, you can write to us directly at [email protected].

Today’s episode is sponsored by HistoIndex, the first global company to provide stain-free, fully automated imaging solutions for visualizing and quantifying morphological and architectural features of fibrosis. HistoIndex couples breakthrough biophotonic technology with an AI-powered digital pathology system to provide consistent, high-throughput imaging in liver disease and cancer. The platform benefits clinical research and speeds development of drugs and diagnostics. For more information, visit www.histoindex.com.

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Surfing NASH extends its preview coverage of the upcoming EASL Congress with a three-part episode. This conversation continues to unpack the 2023 program with Ian Rowe, Jörn Schattenberg and Roger Green. Jörn begins by pointing to the Abstract session - NAFLD: Therapy which commences at 8:30 CEST on Friday morning. Specifically, he goes on to more closely detail a presentation related to time-restrictive eating which spurs an anecdote from Roger. Following, Ian describes what he finds fascinating about the opening presentation of this session concerning a Phase 2a, randomized, active-comparator-controlled, open-label study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of efinopegdutide in individuals with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. This leads the group to comment on the influence of dual agonists in the wider landscape of drug development. The rest of the conversation considers the latest of what Roger presages to be a “fascinating set of advances” in the context of emerging individualized therapies by way of miRNA coupled with CAR-T to target fibrosis. In closing, Ian makes a point around “the amount of work that's going to be required if and when a drug is licensed.” Listen on to hear his thoughts.

The world’s largest liver meeting takes place 21-24 June in Vienna with an international faculty of experts from over 200 institutions. The diverse program will feature 2500 abstracts and be a uniquely momentous occasion for developing multidisciplinary approaches aimed at putting a major dent in Fatty Liver disease. Stay tuned for more coverage and if you have any question or interests around the event, we kindly ask that you submit reviews wherever you download the discourse. Alternatively, you can write to us directly at [email protected].

Today’s episode is sponsored by HistoIndex, the first global company to provide stain-free, fully automated imaging solutions for visualizing and quantifying morphological and architectural features of fibrosis. HistoIndex couples breakthrough biophotonic technology with an AI-powered digital pathology system to provide consistent, high-throughput imaging in liver disease and cancer. The platform benefits clinical research and speeds development of drugs and diagnostics. For more information, visit www.histoindex.com.

Stay Safe and Surf On!

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Surfing NASH extends its preview coverage of the upcoming EASL Congress with a three-part episode. First up, Ian Rowe and Jörn Schattenberg speak to Roger Green about anticipations around the 2023 program and which abstracts are eye-catching and why. This conversation comes from that session and begins with Ian’s selection of a highly-anticipated abstract which will detail data from the MAESTRO-NASH clinical trial of resmetirom for the treatment of NASH and liver fibrosis. Specifically, Ian looks to learn more about the potential prevention of progression of fibrosis. Jörn adds the note that this abstract will be the first oral presentation to set the stage for the wider meeting. After a few more comments around expectations for the MAESTRO-NASH presentation, Jörn goes on to highlight interest in a poster being presented by a colleague titled, Impairment of health-related quality of life among people with type 2 diabetes and advanced fibrosis. Jörn describes that this is “not rocket science, but an application on how we do medicine these days for patients with NASH.” After a few additional notes on the topic, the baton is passed to Roger to discuss his interests around an oral poster titled Analytical and clinical validation of AIM-NASH: a digital pathology tool for artificial intelligence-based measurement of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis histology. Roger prefaces his enthusiasm for the paper with the note that Stephen Harrison has recently suggested on the podcast that FDA might accept AIM as a replacement for histology in terms of drug development. It’s Roger’s hunch that this may be a pivotal paper in that discussion and bring us closer to the idea of moving beyond histopathology to AI-assisted - or even AI-driven - reads for admission or endpoint assessment studies.

As the conversation winds down, Ian comments on his interest in developing an understanding around “how frequently tests need to be done and what magnitude of change in a biomarker predicts an outcome that is worse or indeed better.” This leads Jörn and Roger to tease what may be discussed in a session on diagnostics that will feature three seperate presentations by friends of the podcast Stephen Harrison, Naim Alkhouri and Mazen Noureddin.

The world’s largest liver meeting takes place 21-24 June in Vienna with an international faculty of experts from over 200 institutions. The diverse program will feature 2500 abstracts and be a uniquely momentous occasion for developing multidisciplinary approaches aimed at putting a major dent in Fatty Liver disease. Stay tuned for more coverage and if you have any question or interests around the event, we kindly ask that you submit reviews wherever you download the discourse. Alternatively, you can write to us directly at [email protected].

Today’s episode is sponsored by HistoIndex, the first global company to provide stain-free, fully automated imaging solutions for visualizing and quantifying morphological and architectural features of fibrosis. HistoIndex couples breakthrough biophotonic technology with an AI-powered digital pathology system to provide consistent, high-throughput imaging in liver disease and cancer. The platform benefits clinical research and speeds development of drugs and diagnostics. For more information, visit www.histoindex.com.

Stay Safe and Surf On!

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Surfing NASH serves yet another preview of a highly anticipated and upcoming EASL Congress in Vienna, this time focusing on a strong lineup of fascinating abstracts and engaging sessions. This episode is split into three digestible sections. First up, Louise Campbell speaks to Roger Green about anticipations around the program and which abstracts are eye-catching and why. Next, Ian Rowe and Jörn Schattenberg join Roger to address a similar set of questions from their unique perspectives. Finally, the podcast has partnered with HistoIndex to produce a topical extra-sode around AI and pathology with Arun Sanyal and David Kleiner. This is an information-packed session with something for everyone, so sit back and enjoy the discussion.

The world’s largest liver meeting takes place 21-24 June in Vienna with an international faculty of experts from over 200 institutions. The diverse program will feature 2500 abstracts and be a uniquely momentous occasion for developing multidisciplinary approaches aimed at putting a major dent in Fatty Liver disease. Stay tuned for more coverage and if you have any question or interests around the event, we kindly ask that you submit reviews wherever you download the discourse. Alternatively, you can write to us directly at [email protected].

Today’s episode is sponsored by HistoIndex, the first global company to provide stain-free, fully automated imaging solutions for visualizing and quantifying morphological and architectural features of fibrosis. HistoIndex couples breakthrough biophotonic technology with an AI-powered digital pathology system to provide consistent, high-throughput imaging in liver disease and cancer. The platform benefits clinical research and speeds development of drugs and diagnostics. For more information, visit www.histoindex.com.

Stay Safe and Surf On!

Send us Fan Mail

In a monumental moment for combatting Fatty Liver disease, NICE has published the much anticipated evidence-based recommendations on FibroScan for assessing liver fibrosis and cirrhosis outside secondary and specialist care. Such a positive announcement comes at no better time than the start of the Surfing NASH ongoing coverage of International #NASHDay 2023 . To kick off the occasion, this first episode features hepatology researcher and KOL, William Alazawi, and new guest Vanessa Hebditch who serves as Director of Communications and Policy at the British Liver Trust. The panelists, alongside Louise Campbell and Roger Green, celebrate and comment on the new guidance on FibroScan use in the UK.

This final conversation starts with Roger's closing question: if this group reconvenes in 18 months, how will the UK have progressed on this frontier? The answers vary but mostly center on issues of screening, issues of care and issues of data and analysis. 

If you have questions or interest around NICE and FibroScan use, we kindly ask that you submit reviews wherever you download the discourse. Alternatively, you can write to us directly at [email protected].

Stay Safe and Surf On!

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In a monumental moment for combatting Fatty Liver disease, NICE has published the much anticipated evidence-based recommendations on FibroScan for assessing liver fibrosis and cirrhosis outside secondary and specialist care. Such a positive announcement comes at no better time than the start of the Surfing NASH ongoing coverage of International #NASHDay 2023 . To kick off the occasion, this first episode features hepatology researcher and KOL, William Alazawi, and new guest Vanessa Hebditch who serves as Director of Communications and Policy at the British Liver Trust. The panelists, alongside Louise Campbell and Roger Green, celebrate and comment on the new guidance on FibroScan use in the UK.

In this session, each panelist offers their own take on where the devil is in the details can be applied to this subject. be themed. Much of the discussion comprises a fascinating interplay of ideas between Will and Louise about the best ways to implement community screening and more broadly, chronic disease management within the NHS system. Listen on to find out more.

If you have questions or interest around NICE and FibroScan use, we kindly ask that you submit reviews wherever you download the discourse. Alternatively, you can write to us directly at [email protected].

Stay Safe and Surf On!

Send us Fan Mail

In a monumental moment for combatting Fatty Liver disease, NICE has published the much anticipated evidence-based recommendations on FibroScan for assessing liver fibrosis and cirrhosis outside secondary and specialist care. Such a positive announcement comes at no better time than the start of the Surfing NASH ongoing coverage of International #NASHDay 2023 . To kick off the occasion, this first episode features hepatology researcher and KOL, William Alazawi, and new guest Vanessa Hebditch who serves as Director of Communications and Policy at the British Liver Trust. The panelists, alongside Louise Campbell and Roger Green, celebrate and comment on the new guidance on FibroScan use in the UK.

Roger starts this conversation with a metaphor suggesting that as the FibroScan initiative takes shape, different stakeholders and communities might start out in different directions. Later, Louise suggests that the regions should rethink their funding to make it, as she puts it, bottom up instead of top down, and discusses other steps necessary to equalize delivery of quality scanning care throughout the US. Louise also mentions that the NHS recently announced investment in community scanning centers over the next two years in making all this work. The conversation winds down with Vanessa talking about work the British Liver Trust has done to assess different regions abilities to analyze and act on abnormal tests and more recently, conversations with integrated care boards on this topic. She goes on to discuss some of the challenges with producing change within NHS.

If you have questions or interest around NICE and FibroScan use, we kindly ask that you submit reviews wherever you download the discourse. Alternatively, you can write to us directly at [email protected].

Stay Safe and Surf On!

Send us Fan Mail

In a monumental moment for combatting Fatty Liver disease, NICE has published the much anticipated evidence-based recommendations on FibroScan for assessing liver fibrosis and cirrhosis outside secondary and specialist care. Such a positive announcement comes at no better time than the start of the Surfing NASH ongoing coverage of International #NASHDay 2023 . To kick off the occasion, this first episode features hepatology researcher and KOL, William Alazawi, and new guest Vanessa Hebditch who serves as Director of Communications and Policy at the British Liver Trust. The panelists, alongside Louise Campbell and Roger Green, celebrate and comment on the new guidance on FibroScan use in the UK.

This conversation continues focus on the concerns around appropriate data collection and analysis to discover the best path forward. Will describes the need to collect the kinds of data that will assess the value of the process and the right way to execute as processes are built and implemented. Vanessa agrees, but asks that we not let the perfect be the enemy of the good and that we keep in mind how many patients with advanced fibrosis are not getting diagnosed today and need the support of this program. One point that clearly emerges in dialogue with Will is that other countries will look to NICE and the UK experience to inform their own decisions. This only amplifies the need to collect data well and wisely. Louise states that she would also like to see data about the effect of this initiative on related metabolic conditions. She likens FibroScan scoring to dropping a pebble in a pond and seeks to explore the ripples it makes in related diseases and conditions, particularly for endocrinology and cardiology. Roger remarks on how refreshing it is to hear a conversation where multiple stakeholders are aligned to find the best approach to the disease. He goes on to contrast this topic to the role of ICER. Finally, Roger asks questions around Louise's pond metaphor and mentions comments that Stephen Harrison and Mazen Noureddin made last autumn that had suggested that FAST may be a better first line test. Will suggests that many questions need to be answered before determining the accuracy of the tests or what the best way to perform them is.

If you have questions or interest around NICE and FibroScan use, we kindly ask that you submit reviews wherever you download the discourse. Alternatively, you can write to us directly at [email protected].

Stay Safe and Surf On!