#USA #Fairfield #American Liver Foundation #Liver Scholar #Postdoctoral Research

American Liver Foundation's Commitment to Liver Research

The American Liver Foundation (ALF) has recently announced the recipients of its esteemed 2024 Liver Scholar and Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Awards, emphasizing its dedication to support innovative research in liver disease. In a significant move for the academic and medical communities, ALF has allocated nearly $1 million to empower early-career scientists in their pursuit of breakthroughs concerning liver health issues affecting approximately 100 million Americans.

These awards are designed to not only honor scientific excellence but also to foster the next generation of liver researchers. In 2024, ALF is funding a total of 20 early-career scientists and supporting a variety of cutting-edge research projects. This includes two new Liver Scholar Awards, which provide each recipient with $225,000 over three years, and seven Postdoctoral Fellowships worth $25,000 each. The focus of this research covers critical topics ranging from understanding the mechanisms of liver diseases to exploring innovative treatment avenues.

Highlights of the Award Recipients

Among the recipients of the 2024 Liver Scholar Awards, we find:

• - Berfin D. Azizoglu, PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, whose research aims at dissecting the restructuring of hepatic lobule vasculature in cases of acute chemical liver injury.
• - Vijay Pandyarajan, MD, PhD from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, who will delve into the role of CARD9 in gut barrier function and its relation to metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD) progression.

In addition to the Liver Scholars, the Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards have been presented to seven talented researchers, with projects that address diverse aspects of liver science:

• - Matthew Carson, PhD from the University of Pittsburgh, investigates the gut-liver axis and its impact on bone loss during cholestatic liver disease.
• - Ying Chen, PhD from Baylor College of Medicine, studies lipid metabolism regulation in MASLD.
• - Marcos Fernandez Fondevila, PhD from UC San Diego, deciphers intestinal senescence's role in alcohol-associated liver disease.
• - Others include works focused on neonatal health impacts, the regulatory role of hypoxia in liver development, and mechanisms of liver cell damage caused by inflammation.

The Importance of Supporting Young Researchers

Lorraine Stiehl, CEO of ALF, expressed pride in the foundation's ability to provide substantial funding that promotes research aimed at solving pressing liver health issues. She stated, “This year's recipients are dedicated researchers working on innovative strategies that could revolutionize our knowledge of liver diseases.” This commitment to funding represents ALF's broader goal of tackling liver diseases, which often carry a stigma and have been historically under-researched.

The rigorous selection process involved a committee of esteemed basic researchers and physician scientists who adhered to best practices established by the National Institutes of Health while reviewing a record number of applications. This ensured the selection of groundbreaking projects likely to offer fresh insights and potential treatments in liver health.

The Path Forward for Liver Research

As these young researchers embark on their funded projects, there is anticipation within the medical community regarding the advancements they could bring about. Each chosen project holds the promise of contributing potentially transformative knowledge about liver biology and disease, which might ultimately lead to breakthroughs in treatment modalities.

ALF continues to seek financial support from various donors and partners, reinforcing the importance of funding to take research from concepts to clinical applications. Such initiatives underscore ALF’s mission to prevent, treat, and cure liver disease as part of its ongoing advocacy and educational efforts.

For more information regarding the ALF's research funding programs or to learn how to support liver health initiatives, visit liverfoundation.org/research. ALF remains a pivotal organization in the fight against liver disease, actively empowering those affected while driving innovative research efforts forward.