Cosponsored by the Inclusion and Diversity Committee, the Women's Initiatives Committee, and the LGBTQ Taskforce, the program centers on academic advancement, promotion, and tenure for under-represented groups in hepatology. Under-represented groups—which can vary by context and geography—may identify by race, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation, disability, etc. Speakers' presentations focus on various aspects of academic advancement, including talks aimed at junior faculty and trainees regarding academic advancement and promotion for clinical track faculty, and academic advancement and tenure for research and basic science oriented faculty. Barriers to academic rank promotion for nurse practitioner and physician associate faculty are discussed as well as the need for a consistent framework for academic advancement for across institutions. All are welcome.

Hosted by the AASLD Training and Workforce Committee, the goal of this session is to combine fun, friends (new and old), and facts. Attendees are asked to join a team at a table and get ready to answer hepatology-related trivia questions. This highly interactive session combines foundational and advanced hepatology trivia in a fast-paced trivia format, engaging attendees and encouraging some lighthearted competition with networking baked in. And &ndash; there will be prizes!&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Slido:&nbsp;<a href="https://app.sli.do/event/oTBx2M1P5cyqKmzEv7tu36">https://app.sli.do/eve…;

Gain insights into the current state of liver transplantation management worldwide. This segment provides updates on the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) modernization project; explores international strategies for organ allocation (both deceased and living donations); and engages in a critical discussion of the advantages and challenges of posttransplant data reporting.

Experts review updates in the field for the prognostication and management of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). Speakers lead a case-based discussion about challenging ICP cases and share approaches to management from ursodiol to ileal bile acid transporter (IBAT) inhibitor treatment. Topics include the association of chronic liver disease&mdash;including primary biliary cholangitis, hepatitis C, autoimmune liver disease, and cirrhosis&mdash;with the development of ICP, and the relevance of genetic testing for individuals with ICP.<br />
<br />
&nbsp;

Gain insights into the global aspects of acute liver failure by exploring the epidemiology, therapies, and preventive approaches in various regions of the world, as well as differentiating acute liver failure from acute-on-chronic liver failure. Learn from leading experts from various regions of the world who present on specific aspects of acute liver failure using a case-study approach. This session is co-endorsed by our sister societies: the Latin American Association for the Study of the Liver, the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver, the European Association for the Study of the Liver, and the Society on Liver Disease in Africa.

Experts provide a case-based, in-depth tutorial on machine perfusion, donor management, and outcomes of liver transplantation using organs procured from donation after circulatory death (DCD). Topics include an overview of the various techniques of machine perfusion for DCD liver allografts, including programmatic costs; and short-term and long-term impacts of machine perfused DCD liver allografts on patient-survival, graft survival, and biliary complications. 

<strong>Laura Kulik, MD</strong> will present the Hyman J. Zimmerman Hepatotoxicity State of the Art Lecture, &quot;Systemic Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in 2025: Where Are We Now?&quot;

<strong>Harmeet Malhi, MBBS FAASLD</strong>, will present the Hans Popper State of the Art Lecture, &quot;Hacking the Hepatic Lipid Code: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities in Steatotic Liver Disease.&quot; This presentation delves into the molecular intricacies of hepatic lipid metabolism and lipotoxicity in metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease and alcohol associated hepatitis. We will review the critical mechanistic role lipids play in liver injury and inflammation in the development of steatotic liver disease. By decoding the hepatic lipid code, the presentation aims to unveil potential therapeutic strategies. Attendees will gain insights into cutting-edge mechanisms and approaches to address liver steatosis effectively.<br />
&nbsp;

Experts explore the dynamic interactions between the innate and adaptive immune systems in the context of liver fibrosis and inflammation, and provide insights into cutting-edge research and strategies for addressing liver fibrosis and associated inflammatory conditions. Key areas of focus include: (1) immune system roles—how innate immune cells (eg, macrophages, dendritic cells) and adaptive immune components (eg, T cells and B cells) communicate and influence hepatic tissue responses; (2) mechanisms of crosstalk—signaling pathways, cytokines, and cellular interactions that drive fibrosis and chronic liver inflammation; and (3) clinical implications—how immune crosstalk contributes to disease progression and identification of potential therapeutic targets to modulate the immune response and treat liver disorders.
<ul><br />
&nbsp;
</ul>

This clinical symposium focuses on unique medical and surgical aspects of selection and management of liver transplant candidates with advanced age, obesity, and/or frailty. Topics include: medical and endoscopic management of obesity before transplantation; the role of prehab for frail transplant candidates; selection of transplant candidates with advanced age; and surgical anatomical challenges in liver transplantation.