(Washington, D.C., April 29, 2022) – As leaders in the liver cancer community, Global Liver Institute and their Liver Cancers team expresses our gratitude and recognizes Dr. Ned Sharpless and his tremendous work as the Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institute of Health. Dr. Sharpless has held this position since 2017 and will serve through today.

GLI was honored to interview Dr. Sharpless, 15th director of the NCI, on October 1, 2021, during the GLI LIVE episode “The National Cancer Act at 50 and the Prospects for Ending Liver Cancer.” On liver cancer, he shared, “With a complicated shift in epidemiology and slow advances in research, we are seeing an increase in liver cancer incidence and mortality—making it a very challenging cancer to treat.” Additionally, in November 2021, NCI released information about a clinical trail that targets the cell surface protein GPC3 which provides a promising opportunity to treat hepatocellular carcinoma.

Dr. Sharpless has championed health equity and inclusion and developed fundamental programs in data science, and he will truly be missed.

GLI looks forward to developing its relationship with the NCI to continue to drive policy, education, and awareness of liver disease and liver cancers to increase screening, treatment, and prevention of the third deadliest cancer in the world.