Liver Forum to become an annual event
11 October 2005
Liver disease is a major cause of death and disease in Australia and its incidence is increasing.
To learn more, 100 health professionals from across Sydney attended the inaugural Liver Forum: Biology and Lifestyle, held on 11 October at the Medical Foundation Building, The University of Sydney.
Touching on all aspects of the research spectrum, from basic molecular biology to clinical studies, delegates enjoyed presentations from some of Australia’s leading experts.
Topics covered included important liver diseases such as hepatitis C, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and primary liver cancer including the role life-style changes can play on disease progression. Speakers also talked about advanced liver disease, the management of complications such as malnutrition and osteoporosis, and improving outcomes in liver transplantation.
Speakers included joint researchers at the Westmead Hospital and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, The Westmead Millennium Institute and The Centenary Institute: Professor Geoff Farrell, Professor Geoff McCaughan, Associate Professor Jacob George, Dr Simone Strasser and Dr Tony Donaghy. Visiting Professor’s, Professor Peter Angus (Vic) and Professor George Yeoh (WA) also spoke.
The NSW Minister for Health, The Hon John Hatzistergos, officially opened the Liver Forum and the organisers deemed it such as success, they intend to make it an annual event involving other groups to share ideas and facilitate research collaboration in this important field.
The Liver Forum is a joint research day presented by the Centre for Clinical Research Excellence (CCRE) for improving outcomes in chronic liver disease and the Program Grant investigating the molecular and cellular pathogenesis of liver disease. Both of these National Health & Medical Research Council program grants are administered by The University of Sydney.
Pictured above from left to right: Professor Peter Angus, Victorian Liver Transplant Unit, Austin Hospital, Victoria; Associate Professor Jacob George, Storr Liver Unit, Westmead Hospital; Dr Simone Strasser, AW Morrow Gastroenterology and Liver Centre, RPAH; Professor George Yeoh, School of Biomedical, Biomolecular & Chemical Sciences, The University of Western Australia; Professor Geoff McCaughan, AW Morrow Gastroenterology and Liver Centre, RPAH; The Hon John Hatzistergos MLC, NSW Minister for Health; Professor Steve Boyages; Sydney West Area Health Service; Professor Geoff Farrell, Storr Liver Unit, Westmead Hospital; Professor Tony Cunningham, The Westmead Millennium Institute for Medical Research.