Basic Science Emerging Topic Conference: Inflamed Passions of the Liver: A Journey to Clinical, Translational and Basic Liver Immunology

The “Inflamed Passions of the Liver: A Journey to Clinical, Translational and Basic Liver Immunology” Emerging Topic Conference (ETC) is a comprehensive event designed to explore the latest advancements in the understanding of the immune landscape of the liver in the context of health and disease. The inclusive program features two days of in-depth sessions led by experts, with contributions from emerging investigators, covering a range of topics from clinical perspective to innovative translational and basic research avenues. Attendees will engage with cutting-edge research, participate in discussions on future directions, and network with leading professionals in the field.

When & Where

Date: Saturday, May 3, 8:00 am - Sunday, May 4, 5:00 pm (EDT)
Location: San Diego, CA
Program Chairs: Enis Kostallari, MS, PhD | Matthew Burchill, PhD | Bernd Schnabl, MD, FAASLD
Continuing Education Credits: Continuing Medical Education (CME): 13.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ ABIM MOC points: 13.50 MOC points

 

Join AASLD for this liver immunology session, where experts will discuss groundbreaking research. Registered attendees will explore the profound impact of immune cells on liver health and disease, and how the immune response plays a pivotal role during liver disease. 

Key Takeaways for Registrants include:

  • Cutting-edge knowledge on clinical implications of the immune response during liver disease
  • Translational insights into liver disease treatment, including immune checkpoint inhibitors
  • Comprehensive understanding of the adaptive and innate immune cell biology during liver injury
  • International emerging research on Met-ALD, MASH, fibrosis and cirrhosis, liver cancer, cholangiopathies and autoimmune liver disease
  • Meaningful dialogue and idea exchange to foster collaborations and take-home new perspectives
  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) approach 
  • Supportive atmosphere of young investigators 
  • Interactive sessions and possibility to network

Meet the Program Chairs

Program Agenda

 

Session 1: Immune Phenotype of Liver Fibrosis and Cirrhosis

Moderators: Matthew Burchill, PhD (University of Colorado-Anschutz) and Bernd Schnabl, MD, FAASLD (University of California, San Diego)

  • Clinical Features of Immune Mediated Fibrosis
    Scott Friedman, MD, FAASLD  (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS))
  • Immune Regulation of Liver Fibrosis
    Prakash Ramachandran 
  • Pro-inflammatory Extracellular Signals During Fibrosis
    Enis Kostallari, MS, PhD (Mayo Clinic Rochester)
  • TBD
    Young investigator - abstract presentation
  • Panel Discussion/ Q&A
Session 2: Role of Immune Cells in Cholangiopathies         

Moderators: Cara Mack, MD, FAASLD (Medical College of Wisconsin)  and Lily Dara, MD (University of Southern California)

  • Clinical Features of Immune-Mediated Cholangiopathies
    Alexander Miethke, MD (Cincinnati Children's Hospital)
  • Beta-catenin Axis in the Immune Response During Cholangiopathies
    Kari Nejak-Bowen, MBA, PhD (University of Montreal)
  • Microbiome Driven Immune Pathology in Cystic Fibrosis-related Liver Disease
    Romina Fiorotto, PhD (Yale University)
  • TBD
    Young investigator - abstract presentation
  • Panel Discussion/ Q&A
Session 3: New Insights into the Immune Environment of Met-ALD   

Moderators: Xavier Revelo, PhD (University of Minnesota) and Matthias Pinter, PhD (Medical University of Vienna)

  • Clinical Features of Immune Mediated Met-ALD
    Ramon Bataller, MD, PhD (University of Barcelona)
  • Complement-Mediated Innate Immune Response During ALD
    Rebecca L McCullough (University of Colorado - Anschutz)
  • Adaptive Immunity  in Met-ALD
    Mengfei Liu, MD (Yale University)
  • TBD
    Young investigator - abstract presentation
  • Panel Discussion/ Q&A
Session 4: New Insights into the Immune Environment of MASH 

Moderators: Robin Kate Kelly,MD (University of California, San Francisco) and Josh Levitsky, MS, MD, FAASLD (Northwestern Memorial Hospital)

  • Therapeutic Modulation of the Liver Immune Microenvironment  MASH
    Anna Mae Diehl, MD, FAASLD (Duke University)
  • The Emerging Role of B cells in the Pathogenesis of MASH
    Xavier Revelo, PhD (University of Minnesota)
  • CD4+ T Cells Drive  MASH progression
    Petra Hirsova, PharmD, PhD (Mayo Clinic Rochester)
  • TBD
    Young investigator - abstract presentation
  • Panel Discussion/ Q&A

Session 5:  Immunologic Features of Autoimmune Liver Diseases

Moderators: TBD

  • Clinical Features of Adult Autoimmune Hepatitis
    Josh Levitsky, MS, MD, FAASLD (Northwestern Memorial Hospital)
  • T cell Activation and Clonal Expansion in Autoimmune Hepatitis
    Matthew Burchill, PhD (University of Colorado - Anschutz)
  • Immunobiology of Autoimmune Hepatitis in Children
    Cara Mack, MD, FAASLD (Medical College of Wisconsin)
  • TBD
    Young investigator - abstract presentation
  • Panel Discussion/ Q&A
Session 6:  Navigating the Tumor Immune Microenvironment in HCC

Moderators: TBD

  • Insights from spatial transcriptomics for the treatment of HCC
    Luciane T. Kagohara (Johns Hopkins)
  • MASH Limits Anti-Tumour Surveillance in Immunotherapy-Treated HCC
    Mathias Heikenwalder (German Cancer Research Center)
  • Comprehensive Analysis of Spatial Architecture in Primary Liver Cancer
    TBD
  • TBD
    Young investigator - abstract presentation
  • Panel Discussion/ Q&A
Session 7:  Checkpoint Inhibition Mediated Liver Injury   

Moderators: Enis Kostallari, MS, PhD (Mayo Clinic Rochester) and Scott Friedman, MD, FAASLD  (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS))

  • Safety and Efficacy of Immunotherapies for HCC
     Matthias Pinter, PhD (Medical University of Vienna)
  • Clinical Pattern of Checkpoint Inhibitor Induced Liver Injury
    Shilpa Grover, MBBS, MPH (Brigham and Women's Hospital)
  • Innate and adaptive immune activation in Checkpoint mediated liver injury
    Lily Dara, MD (University of Southern California)
  • TBD
    Young investigator - abstract presentation
  • Panel Discussion/ Q&A

Registration Pricing

Regular Rate $190
Trainee Rate $100

Continuing Education

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

Accreditation Statement: The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Designation Statement: AASLD designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 13.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

American Board of Internal Medicine Maintenance of Certification (MOC) 

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation components, enables the participant to earn up to 13.50 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

CME Credits

Physicians seeking AMA PRA Category 1 CME Credits™ for this live activity must complete the meeting evaluation for DDW 2025. A link to the CME evaluation will be emailed to attendees after the course.

ABIM MOC Points

Physicians seeking ABIM MOC points must complete the CME and MOC evaluations for DDW 2025. Requests for MOC points after this date will not be honored. The MOC evaluation will be available online along with the CME evaluation.