Mission & Vision      |      Core Values     |      Directors     |      Event Committee     |      Scientific Committee     |      Patient Advisory Group     |      Evidence to action

Mission & Vision      |      Core Values     |      Directors     |      Event Committee     |      Scientific Committee     |
      Patient Advisory Group     |      Evidence to action

1.5 billion people worldwide
are affected by liver disease*
Approx. 33% of the global pop.
live with MASLD—closely linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic risk factors*
More than $100 billion is spent annually
on MASLD-related healthcare costs in the US and Europe alone.*

Source       | Source       | Source

Source      | Source     | Source

Mission

To connect science, policy, care—and people—in advancing global recognition of steatotic liver disease (SLD)—especially metabolic dysfunction-associated SLD (MASLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH)—as a key component of the metabolic health crisis.

We foster inclusive dialogue across disciplines and lived experiences, expand a diverse community of practice, and accelerate the integration of liver health into national and global non-communicable disease (NCD) agendas.

Vision

A future where steatotic liver disease is a recognised global health priority—addressed through early diagnosis, prevention, and equitable treatment and care. By 2030, liver health is fully embedded within city, national and global NCD strategies, contributing to fewer preventable deaths, reduced health inequities, and stronger, more integrated responses to metabolic disease worldwide.

Core Values

We are committed to reducing health disparities by prioritising the needs of the most affected and underserved populations—aiming to make liver health efforts inclusive, just, and globally relevant.

We break down silos across disciplines, sectors, and geographies—believing that progress happens when researchers, clinicians, policymakers, people with lived experiences, and communities co-create solutions.

We act with determination and focus, recognising the growing burden of steatotic liver disease and the opportunity to drive meaningful change by 2030 through coordinated global action.

We champion evidence-based strategies while grounding our work in lived experiences—believing that policy and care must reflect both data and dignity.

We aim for impact, transparency, and measurable progress—working to ensure that liver health is not just discussed, but integrated and acted on within broader NCD and sustainable development goals (SDG) commitments.

We value creative, practical solutions that challenge the status quo—finding smarter, more effective ways to integrate liver health into care systems, policies, and everyday lives.

Who we are

The Global Think-tank on Steatotic Liver Disease is a collaborative initiative designed to bring together diverse stakeholders to advance the recognition, understanding, diagnosis, and management of steatotic liver disease—with a particular focus on MASLD/MASH as part of the broader metabolic health crisis.

Behind every major initiative is a committed team. On this page, you’ll find our directors, scientific committees, patient advisory group, and a full overview of the people driving this work forward.

Directors

Director

Jeffrey V Lazarus

Professor, CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, NY, USA. Research Professor, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Spain. Director, MASH Cities.

Co-Director

Jörn M Schattenberg

Professor, Director. Department of Internal Medicine. Saarland University Medical Centre, Germany.

Co-Director

Naim Alkhouri

Chief Academic Officer, Summit Clinical Research. Director of the SLD Programme, Clinical Research Institute of Ohio, USA.

Local Chair

Dídac Mauricio

Department of Endocrinology & Nutrition. CIBERDEM, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Spain. Professor, University of Vic. Central University of Catalonia, Vic, Spain.

Scientific Committee Chair

Maja Thiele

Professor of Hepatology, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Odense University Hospital and University of Southern Denmark, Denmark.

Event committee

Kenneth Cusi

Professor of Medicine at the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, University of Florida, USA

Maru Rinella

Gastroenterologist, Director, Metabolic and Fatty Liver Disease Dept, University of Chicago, USA.

Emmanuel Tsochatzis

Hepatologist, Royal Free Hospital, UK.

Shira Zelber-Sagi

University of Haifa, The Tel-Aviv Medical Center, Israel.

Scientific committee

Alina Allen

Mayo Clinic Rochester, USA.

Meena Bansal

Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USA.

Paul Brennan

University of Dundee, Scotland, UK.

Cyrielle Caussy

Lyon University, Lyon South Hospital, France.

Nikos Dedes

Patient advocate, Greece.

Ajay Duseja

Professor & Head of Dep. of Hepatology, Post Grad Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, India.

Hannes Hagström

Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Scott Isaacs

Endocrinologist, Emory University School of Medicine, USA.

Manuel Romero-Gómez

Virgen del Rocío University Hospital, University of Seville, Spain.

Wendy Spearman

University of Cape Town, South Africa.

Vincent Wong

The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Yusuf Yilmaz

Marmara University, Turkey.

Patient Advisory Group

Coming Soon: A Collective Voice for Change

We’re building a dedicated space for patient advocates to lead, connect, and shape the future of care. Rooted in the lived experiences of people across the liver and metabolic disease continuum, this group will ensure that patient voices drive every conversation—locally, globally, and systemically.

Evidence to action: the liver health continuum

Coming Soon

This timeline traces the global journey of liver health from scientific breakthroughs to real-world policy and implementation. Each milestone reflects growing momentum to integrate steatotic liver disease—MASLD/MASH, and related conditions—into the heart of public health systems and strategies. Members of our think-tank have played an active role—contributing to, participating in, or benefitting from these moments—in line with our mission to drive evidence-based action and our vision to position steatotic liver disease as a global public health priority embedded across all health agendas.