The 1st International NASH Day brings together the largest coalition of stakeholders to fight against NASH

Washington, D.C., Tuesday, June 12, 2018 - The Forum for Collaborative Research is proud to support the first International NASH Day taking place today, June 12, 2018. This is a groundbreaking event organized by the NASH Education Program™ and its benefactors and supporters around the world. Over 20 international organizations have joined the coalition, and 150 key opinion leaders in the field have signed onto a Global Call-to-Action. The Liver Forum was also honored to participate in a congressional briefing coordinated by the NASH Education Program™ that occurred yesterday, June 11, to launch International NASH Day on Capitol Hill.

International NASH Day is taking place in more than 25 cities worldwide where patients and providers will participate in workshops, conferences and free screenings, and where the general public will be engaged in street campaigning efforts. Additionally, the initiative will be presented online, through web TV programming in six languages, and across global social networks.

Veronica Miller, PhD, Executive Director of the Forum for Collaborative Research reflected on the importance of this event, noting, “The health and socio-economic burden of NASH will seriously impact health systems and productivity. NASH is insidious by nature, and many will be diagnosed too late. Even before end stage liver disease, NASH impacts metabolic and cardiovascular health. Increased awareness at patient, community and medical level is key to turning the tide on this public health emergency”.

Stephen Harrison, MD, PhD, Medical Director of Pinnacle Clinical Research, San Antonio, Texas; Visiting Professor of Hepatology at the Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford; and member of the scientific committee of The NASH Education Program™ commented, "NASH is predicted to become the leading cause for liver transplantation in the U.S. by 2020. Yet NASH is a 'silent' chronic disease that is difficult to diagnose, meaning those most at risk for developing NASH, or who may already have it, don't know it. The NASH Education Program™ is designed to place the practitioners and the patients at the heart of tomorrow's awareness and education actions. We hope to give voice to potential NASH patients and help them on the path to a longer, healthier life."

Pascaline Clerc, PhD, U.S. Campaign Manager for The NASH Education Program™ remarked on the worldwide impact of International NASH Day events, sharing, "We are proud and excited to count more than 20 international organizations on board of this 1st International NASH Day, including patient associations, learned societies and industrial stakeholders. This event really is a pivotal milestone for the whole NASH field. Many world leading experts in hepatic and metabolic diseases have joined forces to support the initiative, not only in the USA and in Europe, but also in countries like Mexico, Chile or Turkey. High quality events will take place in more than 25 cities across the globe, and a rich educational content will be published online on June 12 in order to address many of patients' unmet needs.The information produced and disseminated will also be useful for the medical community. From the early feedback we have received so far, we are convinced this first edition will be a success. And we're really already looking forward to the next edition because many supporters not able to participate this year have already committed to contribute in 2019!”

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About the NASH Education Program™
The NASH Education Program aims to bring resources and information to patients, the general public and the medical community at large. Most patients affected by NASH don’t know that they suffer from this disease until they reach the late stages of the disease. NASH is a “silent” affliction and while patients may experience fatigue or loss of appetite, their symptoms can often be associated with other conditions, making it very difficult for physicians and clinicians to get a good handle on NASH screening. By disseminating information to patients and physicians, The NASH Education Program hopes to allow for earlier diagnosis and provide patients with a chance to manage the disease by adopting drastic lifestyle changes and following a strict diet. This is often a challenge for patients, not only because those changes need to be sustained over the long term in order to be effective, but also because it requires a financial and time commitment. Furthermore, it is vital to also educate the family, friends and colleagues of patients and break the stigma associated with this disease.

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About the Liver Forum
The Liver Forum is an initiative of the Forum for Collaborative Research, part of the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health. The Liver Forum was launched in 2014 in response to the Trial Designs and Endpoints for Liver Disease Secondary to Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease meeting sponsored in 2013 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease.

The Liver Forum aims to advance the regulatory science for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and liver fibrosis by providing an independent and neutral platform for ongoing multi-stakeholder dialogue to identify and address gaps in the field. Neutrality and objectivity is ensured through representation and active engagement of scientific experts from all stakeholder groups, including academia, industry, patient community and regulatory agencies.

Contact Information
Katherine Greene, MPH
Senior Research Associate
Forum for Collaborative Research
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Twitter: @LiverForum