American Liver Foundation (ALF)

Research: American Liver Foundation (alf) has a history of commitment to research funding dating back to 1979, but in 2023 (after a covid-related hiatus) it established a dedicated research department that will build a solid Foundation to grow the research program over the next few years. Priorities will include making an impact on serious challenges such as inadequate funding levels for Liver research and a scarcity of researchers devoted to the Liver field. This commitment will result in improvements in therapeutic options and clinical outcomes for patients. Key accomplishments included: *conducted the alf research awards program, which garnered a record 21 Liver scholar and 41 postdoctoral research fellowship applications. Further, a newly constituted grants review committee reviewed the applications for Liver scholar awards and postdoctoral research fellowship awards, which were awarded in december 2023. Alf awarded 3 Liver scholar awards and 7 post-doctoral awards totaling $400,000 in funding. *developed a patient registry that will be promoted among academic and industry partners to help identify research topics and recruit for clinical trials. *participated in the American association for the study of Liver disease's Liver meeting. Research staff prepared and presented a poster about the pilot program for alf's signature Liver screening program, think Liver think life. As part of alf's mission to educate patients, staff attended sessions and summarized content from the Liver meeting for distribution to alf's patient constituents.

American Liver Foundation (alf) has a history of commitment to research funding dating back to 1979, but in 2023 (after a covid-related hiatus) it established a dedicated research department that will build a solid Foundation to grow the research program over the next few years. Priorities will include making an impact on serious challenges such as inadequate funding levels for Liver research and a scarcity of researchers devoted to the Liver field. This commitment will result in improvements in therapeutic options and clinical outcomes for patients. Key accomplishments included: *conducted the alf research awards program, which garnered a record 21 Liver scholar and 41 postdoctoral research fellowship applications. Further, a newly constituted grants review committee reviewed the applications for Liver scholar awards and postdoctoral research fellowship awards, which were awarded in december 2023. Alf awarded 3 Liver scholar awards and 7 post-doctoral awards totaling $400,000 in funding. *developed a patient registry that will be promoted among academic and industry partners to help identify research topics and recruit for clinical trials. *participated in the American association for the study of Liver disease's Liver meeting. Research staff prepared and presented a poster about the pilot program for alf's signature Liver screening program, think Liver think life. As part of alf's mission to educate patients, staff attended sessions and summarized content from the Liver meeting for distribution to alf's patient constituents.