An excellent 2nd EFLC2018
“Pioneers and young researchers fused their high-quality knowledge in the field of NASH”
The EASL-endorsed and EACCME-accredited event took place from February 28 to March 2, 2018 in a beautiful venue that is located at the cross borders of the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. About 100 attendees coming from all over Europe gathered together at the Bilderberg Castle Vaalsbroek (Maastricht area, NL) to share their research, opinions and scientific ideas in the field of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
Given that one in four people is affected with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) worldwide, a spectrum of liver diseases that is known to progress to NASH, fibrosis and cirrhosis, the aim of the 2nd EFLC2018 was to discuss the physiological impact and systemic effects of NAFLD/NASH from a translational perspective, thus combining fundamental and clinical insights from different expertise.
Supported by the School for Nutrition and Translational Medicine (NUTRIM), it was an honour to welcome Prof. Annemie Schols (Scientific Director of NUTRIM) at the EFLC2018. Prof. Schols opened the EFLC2018 by emphasizing its great position within NUTRIM: “working together, performing basic, translational and clinical research, in national and international settings, using state-of-the-art and new technologies, to gain new healthy insights with a truly societal impact for both healthy and ill people”.
Following the concept of the 1st EFLC, organized in 2015 in Maastricht, the scientific mission of this year’s EFLC2018 was to address Clinical Problems, interactively share Basic Ideas, and work together towards Great Challenges, Opportunities and Solutions in the field NAFLD/NASH. As such, the EFLC2018 offered a great scientific program consisting of plenary sessions, interactive workshops, poster and pitch sessions and a Key Note lecture provided by Prof. Vlad Ratziu (Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France), pioneer in the field of pharmacological therapy in NASH.
Conference Highlights
The plenary sessions were led by (inter)nationally-established experts in the field, who addressed different clinical aspects (i.e., NASH pathology, diagnostics, progression, interorgan crosstalk and therapeutic strategies) and took the lead in valuable and interactive panel discussions. About ninety percent of the attendees also followed one/more unique, thematic workshops, that were focused on sharing opinions and experience on a variety of topics (e.g., NASH policies, lifestyle counseling, patient perspectives, hepatocellular carcinoma and NASH in children) in small group sessions.
During the second day, one Poster and one selected-pitch session was organized to allow young talents to present their own research and compete for individual prizes, thereby also further facilitating active and critical discussions with/between young researchers. To further support the participation of NUTRIM PhD students within in this meeting, students were accredited with 1 ECTS point.
The 2nd EFLC2018 was an excellent scientific conference that unequivocally helped in further strengthening NAFLD/NASH research within Europe. Besides contributing to increased awareness, it led to novel insights into diagnostic and therapeutic options for patients with NAFLD/NASH. Last but not least, equally important to mention are the pharmaceutical and industrial partners for their active involvement and financial support, which both are gratefully acknowledged.
Based on the positive outcomes and evaluations of this scientific event, it is a great pleasure to announce the upcoming 3rd EFLC, which will take place from June 10-12 in 2020.
Warm greetings, the EFLC2018 Organising Committee, Ronit Shiri-Sverdlov, Ger Koek, Sven Franque, Frank Tacke, Leo Köhler, Yvonne Oligschläger and Fabienne Defauwes