Global Liver Institute provided comment on the Report of the Health Disparities and Health Equity Working Group of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) Advisory Council supporting NIDDK’s recommendations. The comments encouraged a more robust focus on liver disease in the report’s specific research recommendations and opportunities, especially in light of the fact that liver diseases disproportionately impact communities of color.
Therefore, GLI recommended that NIDDK list liver disease as one of the most stigmatized health conditions and partner with trusted community organizations. GLI suggested incorporating research on NASH patients as NIDDK looks to determine relationships between social determinants of health (SDOH), genetics, and the effects of each on health disparities and disease heterogeneity. GLI also advised NIDDK to train its grant reviewers so that applications advancing health equity are given weight. Lastly, GLI urged NIDDK to recruit a diverse and representative membership for its Advisory Council.