The 61st Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The Liver Meeting® is the premier meeting in the science and practice of hepatology, including the latest findings on new drugs, novel treatments, and the results from pilot and multicenter studies.

Approximately 10 percent of Americans have some form of liver disease, and the diseases strike disproportionately among certain populations but mostly regardless of lifestyle choices. There are now numerous treatments for both hepatitis B and C, and screening, treatment, and prevention of hepatitis remain important issues. Liver cancer is one of the few cancers growing in incidence, and the obesity epidemic has dire consequences for the nation's liver health and wellness.  

The 2047 abstracts addressing these issues that will be presented are available to members of the press at our website (www.aasld.org), including 258 abstracts that will be presented in oral sessions.

An AASLD President's press conference highlighting key abstracts and issues presented at the Liver Meeting® is scheduled for Saturday, October 30 at 4:00 pm.

This year's President's Choice Lecture will be given by the 14th Assistant Secretary for Health for the US Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. Howard Koh. The lecture will focus on the findings from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) study, "Hepatitis and Liver Cancer: A National Strategy for Prevention and Control of Hepatitis B and C." Dr. Koh has provided visionary and extraordinary leadership in assembling a US Department of Health and Human Services-wide team to begin to address the epidemic of viral hepatitis in the US. He will speak about his efforts and the steps the US administration is taking in response to the IOM report. AASLD has worked jointly with the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) to translate the IOM report into language that could be used to affect appropriations to support research and health care delivery for liver disease and also to be used in future legislation to make the screening, early detection, and treatment of viral hepatitis a reality. The AASLD/TFAH report will focus on the policy issues that need to be addressed to advance the implementation of the IOM's work.

Founded in 1950, AASLD is the leading organization of scientists and healthcare professionals committed to preventing and curing liver disease. AASLD has grown into an international society responsible for all aspects of hepatology, and our annual meeting attracts 7,500 physicians, surgeons, researchers, and allied health professionals from around the world.

Please contact AASLD at 703-299-9766 for information about the above presentations, or to receive any additional information about The Liver Meeting® – or visit our website at www.aasld.org.

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Contact:

Gregory Bologna, [email protected]

Ann Haran, [email protected]

SOURCE American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)