New non-alcoholic fatty liver disease research partnership launched

A new partnership bringing academics together to identify research priorities around liver disease has been launched.

Biomedical Research Centres (BRC) in Leicester, Nottingham and Birmingham have come together to create the Midlands Liver Research Alliance – a collaboration aiming to improve the lives of people living with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

The recently launched network aims to “bridge research gaps” and address areas of need in liver research.

The network – which is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) – is inviting healthcare professionals and the public to help shape future treatments by sharing their experience of liver disease.

Kerry Hulley, from the Midlands Liver Research Alliance, said: “Launching the Midlands Liver Research Alliance marks a significant milestone in our collective fight against NAFLD.

“This partnership brings together brilliant minds from various academic disciplines, united by a common goal: to advance our understanding, treatment, and prevention strategies for this growing health crisis.”

She added: “By bridging research gaps and addressing areas of need, we are fostering a collaborative environment that empowers us to make meaningful progress in combatting this disease.

“Together, we have the power to transform lives and create a healthier future for individuals affected by non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.”

Professor Guruprasad Aithal, Co-Director and Theme Lead at NIHR Nottingham BRC, said: “People with non-alcoholic fatty liver have multiple chronic conditions which affect their lives.

“Only by bringing experience from different disciplines together we can alleviate this mounting burden.”

James King, Senior Lecturer in Exercise Physiology at Loughborough University, said: “For such a long time we have known that obesity is a leading risk factor for chronic liver disease.

“It’s fantastic that we now have a partnership that is committed to addressing the most important problems facing patients and healthcare professionals in the area of obesity-related liver disease.”

NAFLD is the term for a range of conditions caused by a build-up of fat in the liver, usually seen in people who are living with overweight.

The prevalence of the condition is disproportionally affected by ethnicity, socio economic status and geographical location.

In response to this, the Midlands Liver Research Alliance will provide culturally appropriate resources and raise awareness in disadvantaged and underserved communities.

For more information, email MidlandsLiverResearchAlliance@uhl-tr.nhs.uk.