This two-hour symposium explores chronic hepatitis B management in diverse populations. Topics include the changing global epidemiology and comorbidity of chronic hepatitis B, how to apply current practice guidelines in “gray” zones, HCC prevention strategies beyond the guidelines, emerging curative therapies and current strategies in HCC surveillance for hepatitis B, especially in younger, noncirrhotic persons from endemic areas.

What are the hotly debated issues in clinical hepatology today? At this session, explore current controversies in the field, including the role of statins, optimal management of acute gastric variceal bleeding and treatment of HCV in people who inject drugs. Speakers will then propose evidence-based guidance to address these difficult or challenging issues.

Experts review recent progress in liver fibrosis research at this session, focusing on new discoveries of the molecular mechanisms and translational aspects of fibrosis and cirrhosis, including translation of findings into humans; the potential role of non-parenchymal cells; new transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of key contributors of fibrosis; mechanisms that may lead to novel therapies; and an update on antifibrotics.

This timely program tackles the eternal question of how to best screen for liver disease in the general population. Speakers will take a global perspective to describe novel methods of screening, discuss high-risk patient populations and address issues of cost effectiveness and linkage to care.

Recent approval of the synthetic FXR agonist obeticholic acid for primary biliary cholangitis treatment shows that targeting nuclear receptors in treating liver diseases, particularly cholestatic and autoimmune conditions, has therapeutic potential.

Review steps to develop programs to eradicate HCV in the U.S. at this program. Speakers will address the current state of screening, novel models to engage more patients into therapy and the current state of access to HCV therapeutics, including generics. They will contrast U.S. efforts to eradicate HCV with programs from around the world.

Recent advances in liver bio-engineering have led to multiple in vitro culture systems that duplicate many complex cell-cell interactions of the intact liver. This symposium will highlight recent advances in this field, show current use of ex-vivo, 3D multicellular culture systems as probes of liver function and disease and update the progress toward the generation of the bio-artificial liver.

The Career Development Workshop is designed for hepatologists in the early career stage. Participants will explore how to maximize career opportunities in basic and clinical research, and will discuss potential sources of research funding for each pathway. They will also review an array of career pathways in both academic and community practice, and possible rewards and challenges hepatologists may encounter.

Angela C. Cheung, Douglas I. Walker, Brian D. Juran, Gary W. Miller, Konstantinos N. Lazaridis – 8 November 2019

Naim Alkhouri, Rohit Kohli, Ariel E. Feldstein – 8 November 2019 – Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is common in children and may progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), advanced fibrosis, and even cirrhosis in childhood or early adulthood, indicating the need for pharmacologic treatment in this age group. Multiple trials are evaluating different therapeutic targets for NASH with fibrosis in adults, and the U.S.