Liver Lowdown September 2018

Spotlight on Hepatic Encephalopathy

Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE), an often debilitating complication of advanced liver disease, occurs when the liver can no longer remove toxins. The American Liver Foundation recently formed a new National Patient Advisory Committee (NPAC) to bring awareness to this disorder. Meghan McSweeney, HE NPAC member, said of the training  “The training instilled in me the skills to use my experiences as a caregiver to educate others about HE, an often terrifying, overwhelming disorder.” 

To learn more about HE and how to manage this disorder, visit the HE page on our website 

Introducing 2018 Research Award Recipients

The American Liver Foundation is pleased to announce the 2018 Research Award Recipients. Since its inception in 1979, the American Liver Foundation Research Awards Program has provided more than $26 million in research funding. Nearly 40 years later and over 860 young researchers have received funding to support their early careers in the field of liver disease. 

Meet this year’s recipients here

Sitting Down with Research Award Winner Dr. Silveira

Without medical researchers like the recipients of The American Liver Foundation research awards, we would not be on the path to a world without liver disease. Recently, we sat down with Dr. Marina Silveira, the recipient of ALF’s 2018 PBC Fund for the Cure Research Award to learn more about why she is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC). Dr. Silveira is currently doing a research study that aims to address symptoms of fatigue in patients with PBC.

Click here to learn more about her project, and what she hopes her work will achieve!

October is Liver Cancer Awareness Month

For the 5th consecutive year, ALF will be launching a multipronged Liver Cancer Awareness Campaign aimed at encouraging those at increased risk for liver cancer to follow up with their physicians to make sure they are being monitored appropriately. 

Click here to learn more about the campaign 

Are you, or have you been a caregiver to a person with liver cancer?

The American Liver Foundation understands that there are unique challenges and unmet needs of caregivers and family members of liver cancer patients. We want to hear about your experiences so that we are able to address these unmet needs with future programs and caregiver resources. 

Click here to complete a  Liver Cancer Caregiver Survey. 

These results will be used to help shape the future development of programs for people with liver cancer and their caregivers.