WELCOME TO THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF THE LIVER

BASL2020 VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING
21st - 24TH September 2021 - PROVISIONAL DATE
Thank you to our members and to the liver community who supported BASL2020. Presentations from the Virtual annual meeting are now available to view through the OnAir meeting portal. Registrants should use their registration log on details to access. Provisional dates for BASL2021 are Tuesday 21st - Friday 24th September – to include BLTG & BLNA - these dates will be confirmed as soon as possible.

BASL VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING
REGISTER HERE

BLNA VIRTUAL
FORUM
REGISTER HERE

BLTG
MEETING
DETAILS FOLLOW
BASL AND BASL SUB-GROUPS
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The British Association for the Study of the Liver is a multi-disciplinary society with around 900 members composed of interested individuals from clinical medicine, clinical and basic research and allied professions. |
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British Liver Nurses' Association is a professional nursing organisation aiming to develop knowledge and understanding of liver disease, in order to improve the quality of patient care. |
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The British Viral Hepatitis aims to improve the management and study of patients with chronic viral liver disease, bringing together UK hepatologists, gastroenterologists, infectious disease physicians, virologists and interested epidemiologists. |
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The BLTG (British Liver Transplant Group) was launched in 2014 to represent the professional interests of liver transplantation in the UK and promote strategic and academic development. The BLTG will foster close relationships with BTS (British Transplant Society) and LICAGE (Liver Intensive Care Group of Europe) and will build on the role of the UK and Ireland Annual Meeting by delivering structure and authority to the group. |
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Is a professional pharmacy organisation aiming to develop knowledge and understanding of liver disorders including viral hepatitis, in order to improve the quality of patient care, through medicines optimisation, collaborative and multi-disciplinary working and promoting patient-focused research. |
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HCC UK is a multi-disciplinary organisation aiming to promote collaboration in research, education and clinical service development for primary liver cancer. We bring together leading oncologists, liver surgeons, hepatologists, basic scientists, radiologists, pathologists and specialist nurses to lead improvement in the quality of patient care. |
News
THE GUTS UK / DR FALK PHARMA 2021 AWARDS ARE OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS
Read moreThe Guts UK/Dr Falk awards recognise the achievements of those who bring new knowledge and insight to the field of gastroenterology, pancreatology and hepatology. These awards are an opportunity to achieve national recognition as well as the financial support for career progression.
Awards available:
A £1,000 prize for the best essay on gastroenterology or hepatology research personally undertaken by medical students who were on an intercalated BSc/MRes/MSc/MPH/MBPhD* course during the previous academic year (2019-20).
Four £1,500 prizes for medical students taking full-time science degrees (BSc/MRes/MSc/MPH/MBPhD*) focusing on gastrointestinal or liver-related disease in the current academic year (2020-21).
Two £2,500 awards for F1/F2 doctors to facilitate prospective research in an area relevant to gastroenterology or hepatology.
A £1,000 award for primary and secondary care gastrointestinal/liver nurses for initiatives that have improved patient care. (Nominate your colleague today for this award).
A £1,000 award for dietitians working in gastroenterology or hepatology for initiatives that have improved patient care.
Up to £10,000 is available for UK-based gastroenterology / hepatology SpR trainees who would like to conduct an audit or quality improvement project in any area of gastroenterology, liver disease or nutrition.
Applications close at 17:00 on April 12th April 2021
For further information and to apply: https://gutscharity.org.uk/research/grants-and-awards/the-guts-uk-dr-falk-awards/
* PhD students should note that they may apply for the medical student prize only once during their three-year studentship and that they may apply for the essay prize when their PhD has been completed.
(Added 01.03.21)
Clinical Fellowship in Transplant Hepatology Post - Leeds
Read moreSpecialty/Department: Department of Hepatology
Location: Leeds Liver Unit, St James’s University Hospital
Salary: Dependent on Experience
Closes: midnight on 09/03/2021
Applications are invited for a Clinical Fellowship as part of a locum appointment for service available for up to 12 Months in the Department of Hepatology at St James’s University Hospital in Leeds. The post is available immediately but flexible for the right candidate.
We are looking for an enthusiastic well-motivated trainee who wants the opportunity to gain experience in the management of liver disease.
With a growing need for doctors to understand and be able to manage patients with liver disease, this is an exciting opportunity to train in one of the leading UK Hepatology centres and contribute to the Leeds Liver Unit’s international reputation for transplantation.
The successful candidate will gain experience in all aspects of hepatology including the assessment of patients with acute and sub-acute liver failure, assessment of patients for treatments such as liver transplantation and TIPSS, patients with a wide variety of complex general hepatological conditions and with viral hepatitis. This is a clinical post and the fellow will join the out of hours rota and have the opportunity to undertake audit and contribute to ongoing projects in the department.
The Department is affiliated to the University of Leeds with the MRC funded Centre for Bioinformatics, the Leeds Institute of Data Analysis and the NIHR funded Diagnostic Evaluation Co-operative.
Candidates should hold full license to practice with the UK General Medical Council and have completed their Foundation Years training or equivalent
Basic salary scale will depend upon experience. An out of hours banding supplement will also apply.
Interested applicants are welcome to contact Dr Mark Aldersley, Consultant Hepatologist and Lead Clinician by e-mail markaldersley@nhs.net .
(added 09.02.2021/amended 25.02.21)
COvid-19 vaccination and Biomarkers in cirrhosis And post- Liver Transplantation (COBALT)
Read moreThe arrival of vaccination for Covid-19 is a very welcome development, particularly after the heavy toll on patients and liver services in 2020. However, the efficacy, or potential for adverse events, of these vaccines in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) or post-liver transplantation (LT) remains unknown. Sub-optimal immune responses to vaccines are common in CLD and post-LT, and thus additional protective strategies may be necessary.
COBALT is a pan-European, large-scale, prospective observational cohort study designed to determine the real-world effectiveness and safety of vaccines for Covid-19 in CLD and post-LT. We invite centres to participate in this effort, co-ordinated by EF-CLIF: www.efclif.com .
The Gilead Research Scholars Program for Liver Disease: Now accepting applications
Read moreGilead’s Research Scholars Program supports innovative research from emerging investigators around the world to advance scientific knowledge in areas of unmet medical needs. Each award is funded up to $130,000 for two years, to be paid in annual installments of up to $65,000 per year.
The Research Scholars Program for liver disease is currently accepting applications from early-career scientists to support basic, clinical and translational research in the field of liver disease, including but not limited to:
• Chronic viral hepatitis
• End-stage liver disease and its complications
• Non-viral chronic liver diseases
• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
• Cholangiocarcinoma (CCC)
The program will be accepting applications until 26th February 2021.
More information on the program, including eligibility criteria and how to submit an application, can be found by visiting the following website: https://researchscholars.gilead.com/en/intl_liver_disease_portal/program-overview
(21.01.21)
NCEPOD Alcohol-related Liver Disease Survey 2021
Read moreAll acute hospital Trusts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be contacted on the 18th January 2021 asking them to respond to a Survey asking about a range of aspects of care for patients with alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD).
This Survey is 10 years after the NCEPOD review of patients who died with ARLD, which made up the 2013 NCEPOD report ‘Measuring the Units’. This is an important piece of work looking at where we are with care provision for this patient group, what has improved and where there is work still to be done. For this to have the most impact, it is crucial that there is strong clinician engagement with their Trusts and we very much appreciate your support with this.
Please contact NCEPOD at arld@ncepod.org.uk to be put in contact with the person at your Trust/Health board to whom the Survey has been sent.
(13.01.2021)
Events
10/03/21
Date: Wednesday 10th March
Title: Management of acute alcohol withdrawal
Speaker: Dr Ewen Forrest, Consultant Hepatologist, Glasgow Royal Infirmary
UK Time: 18:00 - 19:00pm
About
This series of 6 webinars (hosted on Zoom) will discuss different elements of the management of a patient with an alcohol use disorder through an individual patient’s journey from initial presentation, through to the development of alcohol dependency, end stage liver disease and transplantation. The overall objectives of the series will be as follows:
- To define alcohol use disorders and the tools required to diagnose them
- To define what an early intervention is, how it can be delivered and the evidence base behind its efficacy
- To outline the best management of acute alcohol withdrawal, the differences between fixed and on demand regimens and the different settings that this can be managed in
- To discuss the different pharmacological interventions to prevent alcohol misuse or alcohol use relapse and define which populations are best suited for which regimen(s)
- To review the available psychological modalities used in the field of alcohol use disorders; including cognitive behavioural therapies, 12 step counselling, peer support based interventions, social networking and motivational interviewing
- To provide brief training on the practical application of motivational interviewing and how this could be implemented in the medical outpatient setting
- To define the parameter of alcohol history that are assessed to determine suitability for liver transplant with special emphasis of what information referrers should provide to the transplant centre.
Format
This series of free monthly 45-60 minute Zoom webinars will be based on a single clinical case. They will be chaired jointly by the organisers who will start the session with a brief presentation of aspects of the clinical case relevant to that session. The invited speaker(s) will then be asked to deliver their presentation with a Q&A session concluding the webinar. Participants will be in ‘attendee mode’ on the platform and can submit questions through the dedicated facility. They will not be able to speak directly to the panel and cameras will not be activated. The sessions will be recorded and made available on the BASL website after the event. Attendees will be reminded of this fact at the start of each session.
Who can attend?
Members of the multidisciplinary team involved in the management of patients with alcohol use disorders including but not limited to trainees in gastroenterology and hepatology, clinical nurse specialists, psychologists, dieticians, physiotherapists, pharmacists, general internal medicine trainees and transplant coordinators. In addition, we envisage this will be of interest to consultant colleagues. Whilst the sessions will discuss management in a UK setting, we would welcome and encourage participation from international colleagues.
CPD
Attendees at each webinar will be eligible for 1 external Royal College of Physicians Continuing Professional Development points. Certificates of attendance will be emailed directly to attendees following the webinars.
Register - https://plymouth.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_eoMgyDxgSXueyq1IRijy0w
Queries
All enquiries should be directed to Dr Ahmed Elsharkawy at ahmed.elsharkawy@uhb.nhs.uk .
Organisers
Dr Ahmed Elsharkawy, Consultant Hepatologist, University Hospitals Birmingham
Dr Ashwin Dhanda, Consultant Hepatologist, University Hospitals Plymouth and BASL ArLD Specialist Interest Group Lead
Dr Steven Masson, Consultant Hepatologist, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Hospitals and BSG Alcohol Lead
Future Dates:
14th April
Pharmacological management of alcohol use disorder
Speaker: Dr Paul Richardson, Consultant Hepatologist, Liverpool University NHS Trust
19th May
Psychosocial management of alcohol use disorder
Speaker – Dr Peter Rice, Addiction Psychiatrist, NHS Tayside
9th June
Using motivational interviewing in clinical encounters
Speaker – Professor Eilish Gilvarry, Consultant Psychiatrist in addictions, Newcastle Addictions Service, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS
14th July
Peri-transplant assessment and management of alcohol use
Speakers – Sister Liz Shepherd, Lead Specialist Substance Misuse Nurse and SMSLT Chair, Royal Free Hospital, London and Dr Jennifer Ryan, Alcohol Lead, Consultant Hepatologist, Royal Free Hospital, London.
17/03/21
Registration now open
Are you a budding Hepatologist? Do you want to improve your Hepatology knowledge to help with core and higher Hepatology curriculum sign off? Have you got Hepatology questions but not had the opportunity to ask them?
If yes then please join us for the BASL Virtual School of Hepatology 2021. We are running a series of monthly webinars on a Wednesday evening.
Session 3: “Autoimmune liver disease"
Speaker: Dr Jess Dyson, Newcastle Freeman Hospital
Date: Wednesday 17th March
Time: 19:00 – 20:00
The BASL Virtual School of Hepatology Sessions offer an excellent platform for trainees interested in hepatology, with talks delivered by UK Hepatologists, followed by a Q&A session.
Preview the series programme > Download BASL Virtual School of Hepatology Series 2021_website5.pdf
NB: Subject to change
FREE to attend for BASL Members.
Not a member of BASL, then why not join by clicking > here.
REGISTRATION
Please read the BASL Events Data Protection Disclaimer below before registering:
Download BASL Events Data Protection Disclaimer_2021.pdf
Register through Zoom by clicking > here .
Please contact kim@basl.org.uk should you have any questions.
Thank you to our supporters:
Platinum Sponsor: Gold Sponsor: Bronze Sponsor:
'This webinar series is supported by Shionogi, Dr Falk Pharma UK and Intercept Pharma UK & Ireland. They have had no influence or input into the programme, agenda or content of the meeting’.
The HCC-UK Committee are delighted to announce that registration is open for their Virtual Annual Conference 2021.
The HCC-UK meeting is directed towards all those involved in the care of patients with HCC including hepatologists, gastroenterologists, radiologists, oncologists, surgeons and clinical nurse specialists and scientists.
The annual conference will start on Thursday 18th March with a research afternoon, followed by a clinical afternoon titled Developments in HCC in 2020 on Friday19th March.
Visit the dedicated HCC-UK conference website for more information and to register; https://hcc-uk.org.uk/
Registration Fees are:
- Thursday and Friday - Consultants - £25.00
- Thursday and Friday - Nurses/Trainees - £15.00
View a 'draft' programme here > Download HCC UK Conference Prog 2021.pdf
Abstract submission is now closed.
Please do not hesitate to contact gemma.bell@execbs.com if you have any questions.
Best wishes,
HCC-UK Secretariat
We are pleased to invite you to register for the Royal Free Sheila Sherlock Virtual Hepatology Postgraduate Course on 24th to 26th March 2021. This 3-day course is clinically focussed, interactive and delivered by national experts, with excellent delegate feedback.
This year the course will be held virtually, with live-streamed speakers and plenty of opportunities for audience interaction and questions.
Topics include:
- Comprehensive coverage of the hepatology JRCTPB curriculum with up-to-date evidence-based guidelines.
- Management of liver disease in the outpatient, acute take and ITU settings.
- Liver transplantation: patient assessment, referrals, and post-operative care.
- Interactive hepatology grand rounds.
- State-of-the-art Sheila Sherlock invited symposium
- Q&A with the experts.
Trainee/Nurse/AHP concessions are available to BASL members.
Full recordings of the course will be available to registered delegates.
To register visit the UCL website by clicking > here .
14/04/21
Date: Wednesday 14th April
Title: Pharmacological management of alcohol use disorder
Speaker: Dr Paul Richardson, Consultant Hepatologist, Liverpool University NHS Trust
UK Time: 18:00 - 19:00pm
About
This series of 6 webinars (hosted on Zoom) will discuss different elements of the management of a patient with an alcohol use disorder through an individual patient’s journey from initial presentation, through to the development of alcohol dependency, end stage liver disease and transplantation. The overall objectives of the series will be as follows:
- To define alcohol use disorders and the tools required to diagnose them
- To define what an early intervention is, how it can be delivered and the evidence base behind its efficacy
- To outline the best management of acute alcohol withdrawal, the differences between fixed and on demand regimens and the different settings that this can be managed in
- To discuss the different pharmacological interventions to prevent alcohol misuse or alcohol use relapse and define which populations are best suited for which regimen(s)
- To review the available psychological modalities used in the field of alcohol use disorders; including cognitive behavioural therapies, 12 step counselling, peer support based interventions, social networking and motivational interviewing
- To provide brief training on the practical application of motivational interviewing and how this could be implemented in the medical outpatient setting
- To define the parameter of alcohol history that are assessed to determine suitability for liver transplant with special emphasis of what information referrers should provide to the transplant centre.
Format
This series of free monthly 45-60 minute Zoom webinars will be based on a single clinical case. They will be chaired jointly by the organisers who will start the session with a brief presentation of aspects of the clinical case relevant to that session. The invited speaker(s) will then be asked to deliver their presentation with a Q&A session concluding the webinar. Participants will be in ‘attendee mode’ on the platform and can submit questions through the dedicated facility. They will not be able to speak directly to the panel and cameras will not be activated. The sessions will be recorded and made available on the BASL website after the event. Attendees will be reminded of this fact at the start of each session.
Who can attend?
Members of the multidisciplinary team involved in the management of patients with alcohol use disorders including but not limited to trainees in gastroenterology and hepatology, clinical nurse specialists, psychologists, dieticians, physiotherapists, pharmacists, general internal medicine trainees and transplant coordinators. In addition, we envisage this will be of interest to consultant colleagues. Whilst the sessions will discuss management in a UK setting, we would welcome and encourage participation from international colleagues.
CPD
Attendees at each webinar will be eligible for 1 external Royal College of Physicians Continuing Professional Development points. Certificates of attendance will be emailed directly to attendees following the webinars.
Register - https://plymouth.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__RTRmEFfT1me5HU8E2No6Q
Queries
All enquiries should be directed to Dr Ahmed Elsharkawy at ahmed.elsharkawy@uhb.nhs.uk.
Organisers
Dr Ahmed Elsharkawy, Consultant Hepatologist, University Hospitals Birmingham
Dr Ashwin Dhanda, Consultant Hepatologist, University Hospitals Plymouth and BASL ArLD Specialist Interest Group Lead
Dr Steven Masson, Consultant Hepatologist, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Hospitals and BSG Alcohol Lead
Future Dates:
19th May
Psychosocial management of alcohol use disorder
Speaker – Dr Peter Rice, Addiction Psychiatrist, NHS Tayside
9th June
Using motivational interviewing in clinical encounters
Speaker – Professor Eilish Gilvarry, Consultant Psychiatrist in addictions, Newcastle Addictions Service, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS
14th July
Peri-transplant assessment and management of alcohol use
Speakers – Sister Liz Shepherd, Lead Specialist Substance Misuse Nurse and SMSLT Chair, Royal Free Hospital, London and Dr Jennifer Ryan, Alcohol Lead, Consultant Hepatologist, Royal Free Hospital, London.