This symposium will focus on clinical management of NAFLD/NASH in 2020, at a time when the first NASH therapy is likely to be approved soon. Talks will explore whom to treat, how to identify these patients, current treatment options and the future of NASH diagnostics and therapy. The session includes a debate: Do we target NASH resolution or fibrosis improvement?

Cellular senescence is a cell cycle arrest program often accompanied by secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and mitochondrial dysfunction. Senescent cells contribute to age-related tissue degradation and may be involved in the pathogenesis of HCC, fibrosis and cholangiopathies. This symposium will explore how experts are working to translate basic science discoveries into emerging therapeutic strategies for several liver diseases.

Currently, there is groundbreaking research on HBV cure efforts, therapeutic developments for HDV, virologic biomarkers to help individualize antiviral "stopping" strategies in selected populations, and our understanding of concurrent NAFLD and chronic HBV infection. This two-hour symposium reviews emerging data on a potential HBV cure and HDV treatments, novel virologic biomarkers, and the epidemiology and natural history of concurrent HBV/NALFD.

This two-session program explores non-cirrhotic portal hypertension in both children and adults. The first session covers the definition/nomenclature and diagnostic strategies for non-cirrhotic portal hypertension. The second session explores monitoring and management of children and adults with non-cirrhotic portal hypertension, including medical, interventional radiology, and surgical challenges. Each session includes case presentations to highlight controversies, expert panel interviews and Q&A.

This engaging session will explore hot topics in the management of liver cancer, including talks on hepatobiliary neoplasia and liver transplant. The program's first segment will address advancements in research on the pathogenesis and surgical management of liver cancer, while the second half provides analysis of the newest advances in the systemic management of both iCCA and HCC.

In this program, experts in the field will address important, yet often controversial, topics in the management of patients with cholangiopathies. The session will focus in particular on primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Clinicians will learn about emerging developments in potential medical therapies, as well as improved monitoring techniques and surveillance strategies for the ongoing care of their patients.

This SIG reveals recent progress made in liver fibrosis related to NASH, including new molecular mechanisms and translational aspects of NASH-mediated fibrosis and cirrhosis, and translation of laboratory findings into humans. Speakers will cover significant new information about the potential role of hepatocytes, crosstalk with non-parenchymal cells in NASH-fibrosis, and potential non-invasive biomarkers and treatments of patients with NASH-fibrosis.

Explore critical, clinically relevant topics related to basic mechanisms of hepatotoxicity at this SIG. Each talk begins with a patient case presented by a trainee. Discussion topics include how the hepatocyte responds to stress, including antibiotics and other medications; the genetic and epigenetic basis of drug-induced liver injury; and the interplay of adaptive immunity and liver injury.

This program will summarize key concepts in U.S. and global strategies to achieve hepatitis C elimination. Experts will address topics such as new universal screening recommendations, novel paradigms for care delivery beyond the specialty clinic, global strategies for microelimination, treatment as prevention in persons who inject drugs (PWID), and the latest updates on HCV vaccine development.

Explore timely topics in liver disease in a lively debate format as pediatric and adult/general hepatology trainees and practicing hepatologists tackle important, often controversial issues. Debaters will gain skills in critical thinking, balanced argumentation and factual examination of each issue's pros and cons. Debaters, judges and audience members will grapple with opposing scientific, societal, individual and financial viewpoints on current clinical concerns. 

The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center vs Hospital University of Pennsylvania