As we turn the corner into the fall 🍂 (or spring🌸, for our southern hemisphere friends), there is much to celebrate and much to accomplish in the last few months of the year. Our #OctoberIs4Livers campaign kicks off in a few days with activities to fight liver cancer around the world! A few days ago, President Biden signed the bipartisan Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act into law, which will improve transparency and accountability in the transplantation system.
Speaking of transplantation, our very own Founder and CEO Donna R. Cryer celebrates 29 years since her liver transplant – 29 years of accomplishments and memories with the generous gift of her donor and donor family and the skill of her transplant team! (Make sure to keep an eye out for our #Becauseofmytransplant campaign on our social media channels)
We are immensely grateful for the generosity of the donors who power liver health – from living donors and registered organ donors to those who contribute financially to the cause of liver health! None of this impact is possible without you!
Policy & Advocacy
President Biden Signs the Securing the OPTN Act into Law
On Friday, President Joe Biden signed the Securing the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act into law, the largest piece of transplantation legislation since the National Organ Transplant Act of 1984 created the OPTN. GLI CEO Donna R. Cryer, JD, had the opportunity to join with other patient advocates to witness the signing. Global Liver Institute and the many patients and their families in the US waiting for an organ transplant express deep gratitude for everyone whose efforts over the years have enabled this moment.
GLI CEO Donna R. Cryer, JD, Testifies on Organ Transplantation before the Senate Finance Committee
During a U.S. Senate Finance Committee Hearing on the transplant system, Donna R. Cryer delivered a powerful testimony urging reform, based on her personal experience as a liver transplant recipient and an unwavering advocate with a track record of decades improving the health system for patients. Shortly after this hearing, both houses of the U.S. Congress passed the Securing the Organ Transplantation Network Act into law with bipartisan support.
GLI Around the World
Over the past few months, team GLI has participated in numerous global conversations advancing liver health as public health, tackling health equity, and charting a path forward in NASH. Read below as we take you through a quick recap around the globe. 🗺️
GLI CEO Donna R. Cryer speaks about “Realistic Care & Shared Decision making” during ESOT’s opening plenary: Transplantation at crossroads. Athens, Greece 🇬🇷
Photo Credit: ESOT team
GLI CEO Donna R. Cryer speaks during ABGH’s The BIG Symposium 2023: Health Equity at the Forefront. Chicago, IL, USA 🇺🇸
Giacomo Donnini, Director of Liver Health is Public Health, presents at Together for Better Liver Health: Mobilising Action for Fatty Liver Disease in WHO Policy. Geneva, Switzerland 🇨🇭
Donna R. Cryer presents during the European Liver Patients’ Association event on NAFLD at the European Parliament. Brussels, Belgium 🇧🇪
GLI’s Communications Director Christine Maalouf and Director of Liver Health is Public Health Giacomo Donnini join Dr. Jackie Maalouf and others for NASH Day event with DiaLeb – Diabetes & NASH: Perspectives of Prevent and Management. Beirut, Lebanon 🇱🇧
GLI’s VP of Liver Health Programs, Jeff McIntyre, and Director of Liver Health is Public Health, Giacomo Donnini, attend the 2023 EASL Congress. Vienna, Austria 🇦🇹
NASH
6th Annual International NASH Day Reaches Communities around the World
With participation across 55 countries and more than 100 partners, from the EU Parliament to the streets of Dhaka, Bangladesh, GLI and our partners around the world raised awareness, educated healthcare professionals, and even provided screening options to fight the epidemic of fatty liver disease around the world!
Liver Cancers
GLI Hosts Innovating and Advancing Research in Liver Cancers: A Webinar
On June 27, GLI held a discussion of how the field is responding to the needs and challenges of those living with liver cancers. The webinar focused on three topics: reducing disparities in clinical trials, liver cancers screening options and innovation, and liver cancers research updates. Sarah Manes presented the virtual event with Dr. Lionel Fonkua (Mayo Clinic), Dr. Neehar Parikh (University of Michigan), Dr. Amit Singal (UT Southwestern), Dr. Ahmed Kaseb (MD Anderson; NCI SPORE), Dr. Mark McNiven (Mayo Clinic; NCI SPORE), and Dr. Bruno Sangro (Clínica Universidad de Navarra) as key speakers. Read more about the webinar or watch it today!
GLI Partners with the France Foundation to Hold Three HEPATIC (HCC Education and Protocols to Advance Treatment through Integrated Collaboration) Clinician Workshops
From March to August, the France Foundation hosted 3 CME clinician workshops on the most up-to-date recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of HCC. Sarah Manes, GLI’s Program Director for Liver Cancers, presented as part of the expert faculty of the workshops in Houston, TX; New York, NY; and San Diego, CA.
#OctoberIs4Livers 2023 Campaign
Liver Cancer Awareness Month is just around the corner! This October, join us for our annual #OctoberIs4Livers campaign. We’ll be accompanied by special guests during GLI LIVE and our Liver Cancer Lessons series, welcome patients around the world to learn about liver cancer during our Open House series, and much more!
Take a look at the toolkit to share more information about liver cancer with your family and friends and please check out our merch to rep the campaign all month long!
Updates from the Liver Action Network (LAN)
LAN Representatives Respond to ICER Review of NASH Medications
The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review held a public hearing on its assessment of resmetirom and obetacholic acid for treatment of NASH, convened by the Midwest Comparative Effectiveness Public Advisory Council. Several representatives of the GLI’s Liver Action Network presented the patient perspective during the public hearing but ultimately found ICER’s conclusions to be
Pediatrics & Rare Liver Diseases
Wilson’s Disease Policy Brief
Earlier this year, GLI contributed to a policy brief on Wilson’s disease as part of the Wilson’s Disease Policy Network. After providing background on the disease and the main barriers to care, the brief identified the following priority areas for action to improve the quality of life for those with Wilson’s disease: diagnosis, multidisciplinary care, monitoring treatment, data collection, rare disease policy and advocacy.
PBC Summit, Edinburgh, UK
GLI attended the 2023 PBC Summit to learn and align with other members of the PBC community on next steps to improve diagnosis, care, and treatment options for PBC patients.
Polycystic Liver Disease European Research Network Symposium, Nijmegen, Netherlands
GLI’s Director of Liver Health is Public Health Giacomo Donnini attended the ERN Rare Liver Symposium and participated as part of the workgroup, bringing together clinicians and patient advocates to build together an impactful path forward.
GLI in the Media:
Gastro Girl Podcast: Why Should I Care About My Liver?
GLI CEO Donna R. Cryer, JD, was featured in this episode of the podcast empowering optimal digestive health to share why the liver is important, ways to take care of it, and how GLI helps people with their liver health.
Velázquez and Johnson Reintroduce Resolution in Support of World Hepatitis Day
U.S. Representatives Velázquez and Johnson included a quote from Sarah Manes, GLI’s Liver Cancers Program Director in their press release for World Hepatitis Day in July.
GLI CEO Donna R. Cryer, JD, spoke on a panel at The Hill’s Future of Health Care Summit on healthcare disparities, health equity, and access and discussed transplantation, patient education, and the importance of supportive systems to increase access to medical education.
Upcoming Events:
- AASLD’s The Liver Meeting® (November 10-14, Boston, MA): Come say hello to members of GLI’s team throughout The Liver Meeting®! Please email us to set up a meeting or stop by our booth in the exhibitor hall.
- American Public Health Association’s Annual Meeting (November 13, Atlanta, GA): Join us as GLI CEO Donna R. Cryer, JD, will be speaking on a Monday morning panel on Emerging Issues in Research Equity
Media Partners
