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Apr
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The James Lind Alliance survey to prioritise unanswered research questions for liver cirrhosis is now open.
Whether you're a healthcare professional, patient, carer, family member, or researcher, all opinions matter.
What do you think are the priorities for liver cirrhosis research?
We are asking you to select the questions you think are important from a list of 38 possible research questions, then from your long list, choose your top 10 most important questions.
We also ask you to give some information about yourself so that we will know if the survey is reaching a wide audience and to help us target groups wherethere are a low number of responses. You can choose not to answer these questions.
The survey should only take 10 – 15 minutes.
Take the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SMMF6XJ
Closes: May 2nd 2025
Apr
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The European Network for the Study of Cholangiocarcinoma is currently performing a Delphi consensus study on artificial intelligence for biliary tract cancers.
We are seeking clinicians, researchers, patients, industrial representatives, and regulatory professionals to participate in a quick survey to tell us about their perceptions and concerns about AI in this cancer.
Our survey will open on April 9th (first day of Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation annual meeting in USA) and close on May 9th (final day of AMMF Cholangiocarcinoma Charity annual meeting in UK).
Please find the QR code in the poster below and a link to the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CGRMDVS
Mar
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The FSRH Clinical Effectiveness Unit is currently updating their guideline on the safety of contraceptive methods (the UKMEC). The UKMEC considers safety of use of contraceptive methods by individuals with a variety of personal characteristics or medical conditions: UK Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use.
They would like to secure some input from a liver disease expert to advise their Guideline Development Group and they would be very grateful for any help BASL members can give if someone is willing to assist them.
They are seeking a topic expert with a broad knowledge of liver disease who could advise our Guideline Development Group on the following areas:
- Cholestasis
- Viral hepatitis
- Cirrhosis
- Liver tumours
It would involve an initial meeting with their Clinical Director and systematic reviewer to consider the evidence (about an hour) in April/early May. They would also ask the topic expert to attend, if possible, part of their UKMEC Guideline Development Group meeting, which is taking place on the afternoon of Monday 9 June 2025 (for a slot of about 1 hour). They would also ask the expert to review relevant sections of draft text for the guideline subsequently, if it is agreed that revisions are needed.
Participating in this project offers an opportunity to work with leading UK and international experts on national guidance as well as those from other specialties, gain experience in guideline development and be acknowledged for your contribution in the final guideline document.
The topic expert must be a consultant clinician currently working in the specified field. The topic expert must also be in good standing with the relevant professional body and not subject to fitness to practise proceedings. Previous experience in the development of guidelines would be welcome but is not essential.
Please note the role isn’t remunerated.
They would be delighted if one of our members would be able to help.
If you are interested in assisting please contact: ceu@fsrh.org .
Feb
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The Institute of Alcohol Studies have published a new video explaining the impact of alcohol on our healthcare services.
The video features Julia Sinclair, Professor of Addiction Psychiatry and Chair of the RCPsych Addiction Faculty, Dr Dominique Florin, Medical Director of the Medical Council on Alcohol and Sir Ian Gilmore, Profess or of Hepatology and Chair of the AHA and the MCA, and explores service fragmentation, the consequences of underfunding, and the steps needed to rebuild effective pathways to care. It makes the case for a national alcohol strategy to ensure that people experiencing alcohol dependence receive the support they need.
View on YouTube here > The Impact of Alcohol on our Healthcare Services: Explained.
Or on the Institute of Alcohol Studies website.
Feb
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Calling all innovators in Cancer Surgery
BASO~ACS proudly announces the opening of submissions for 2025 round of the BASO/Rosetrees Research Grants in Cancer Surgery, in partnership with esteemed Rosetrees Trust.
They are seeking innovative research projects in surgical oncology that will develop further towards Clinical Translation. They invite multidisciplinary applications and ones that demonstrate an important improvement in delivery of cancer care or improvement in surgical treatment.
Up to £50,000 is up for grabs! This generous amount will be divided among one or more deserving applicants, based on the excellence of submissions received.
Successful projects will be eligible for inclusion in the NIHR Portfolio. Plus, we encourage applicants to seek support from the esteemed Royal College of Surgeons of England Surgical SITU Interventional Trials Unit (SITU).
Submission closes on 2nd May 2025.
For information on the grant process, eligibility, and to apply, visit BASO Website or email us at admin@baso.org.uk .
Jan
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Pabrinex IV will be out of stock from July/ August 2024 until September 2025, due to supply issues relating to manufacturing regulations issued by the EU. Pabrinex IM will be permanently discontinued from December 2024. Pabrinex is only used in the UK, with thiamine IV/ IM being routinely used globally.
Licensed generic vitamins B+ C intravenous injections are now available in the UK for use.We also now have a licensed IV/ IM generic thiamine here in the UK. This can be used as an alternative to Pabrinex in people at high risk of Wernicke’s encephalopathy for treatment and prevention.
The licensed dosing may differ to the unlicensed versions we have been using however matches the amount of thiamine in Pabrinex. The following, including dosing recommendations, has been updated published online by the DHSC Specialist Pharmacy Service.
Clinical decisions and discussions should be sought when choosing between thiamine and the generic Vitamins B + C injections. There will be some patients that need the extra vitamins in the Vitamins B + C injections, however it is reassuring that the rest of the world uses IV thiamine. Cost effective prescribing is also recommended. We are also awaiting the alcohol management guideline, which should be out later in the year.
Joanna Henry, Network Lead BHPG, Gastroenterology Directorate Pharmacist, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Trust
Sital Shah, Chair British Hepatology Pharmacy Group , Consultant Pharmacist, King’s College Hospital, London
Pabrinex spc Pabrinex Intramuscular High Potency Injection - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc)
Thiamine spc Thiamine Hydrochloride 50 mg/ml solution for injection - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc)
Generic Vitamin B+ C : Public Assessment Report
Jan
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Exciting Announcement!!!
I am delighted to announce that Frontline Gastroenterology (FG, fg.bmj.com) will become the official journal partner of BASL!! There has been a desire to set-up a BASL journal for a number of years, but there have always been challenges that have prevented this, the predominant one being the initial set up costs. Productive discussions were started with FG in mid-to late 2024 and it soon became apparent that the aspirations of FG and BASL aligned closely.
FG will remain a broadly cross subspecialty journal, publishing high quality gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition original research and reviews, but there is a clear and strong focus to develop and encourage the submission and publication of liver related articles and release special issues as a major strategic goal of the journal as it aims to grow and increase its impact factor and metrics.
I am grateful to the FG Editor in Chief Dr Philip Smith and the senior publisher at BMJ group for their enthusiasm, flexibility and support in setting this up.
Dr Philip Smith states, "I am delighted that BASL and FG are affiliating. I am firmly committed to publishing the very best frontline Hepatology content that is submitted to FG from around the globe, and have a fantastic Hepatology Associate Editor team (including BASL representation) who are striving to do the same. Working together with BASL is a huge positive for both FG and BASL and I am very excited to see what the future holds. I am grateful to the BASL team and Dr Tim Cross, BASL President for helping to make this happen. I will be proud to see the BASL logo within the journal going forward!"
We very much look forward to working together in the future and will strive to deliver high quality articles and original research to better serve our patients and membership.
Tim Cross
BASL President
Jan
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NICE is developing a guideline on Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/Metabolic dysfunction-associated Steatohepatitis (NAFLD/MASH).
They are seeking a topic advisor who will attend all meetings and contribute expertise throughout the development process.
This is an online application process and details related to this role can be found here: http://healthjobsuk.com/job/v6894128
Online applications close on 20 January 2025.
Dec
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The 2025 Guts UK/Dr Falk Awards are now open to submissions.
These awards recognise the achievements of those who bring new insight to gastroenterology, pancreatology and hepatology, and the collaboration that furthers patient care. They are also an opportunity to achieve national recognition as well as financial support for career progression.
Visit the Guts UK/Dr Falk Awards 2025 webpage to learn more about the 7 different prize categories, and make sure to submit your application by Monday 17th February 2025 at 5pm.
Any queries can directed to research@gutscharity.org.uk .
Oct
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Friday 11th October 2024
Latest data reinforces calls for extension of opt-out hepatitis B testing and highlights need to resolve inequalities
New data presented today at The British Association for the Study of the Liver Annual Meeting in Harrogate has added weight to calls from the British Liver Trust for opt out blood testing to be made routinely available in all emergency departments across the UK. The research also highlights the urgent need for improvements to ensure adequate follow up and monitoring of patients who have been diagnosed with hepatitis B (HBV).
The British Liver Trust has been calling for the roll out of opt-out testing across all emergency Departments in the UK since testing for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C launched in April 2022 in Emergency Departments in areas of very high HIV diagnosed prevalence. All Emergency Department attendees over 18 years of age who were having blood tests done for any reason, were tested for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, unless they opted out. The initiative has unearthed a lot more cases of undetected hepatitis B than expected, resulting in a 30% increase in estimated prevalence and surge in demand for hepatitis B services.
Opt-out blood borne virus testing in Emergency departments was rolled out in areas of extremely high HIV prevalence in April 2022. This research described the cases identified through testing at two Emergency Departments in King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. In the first 18 months, out of the 837 patients who tested positive for viral hepatitis (hepatitis B or C), the majority, 715 (85%) tested positive for hepatitis B. Although 351 (42%) were already in care, almost a quarter (24%) were new diagnoses of hepatitis B, which can cause liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer and other serious health complications if left untreated.
56 patients (8%) had previously been diagnosed but were not receiving care or treatment, and a further 40 patients (6%) could not be contacted after the positive test to check that they were aware of their diagnoses. This highlights the need for strategies to ensure that patients with hepatitis B are followed up adequately, which requires information, education and patient involvement. It also identifies the need for research into barriers to accessing care which may include stigma, discrimination and language barriers.
Pamela Healy OBE, Chief Executive at the British Liver Trust said:
“If left undetected, the hepatitis B virus can cause liver damage and increase an individual’s risk of developing liver cancer, yet thousands of people in the UK are asymptomatic and unaware they are infected with it.
This latest research reinforces what we already knew – that opt-out testing is highly effective at identifying people living with previously undiagnosed blood borne viruses, such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C, so that they can receive treatment, prevent further complications and ultimately reduce NHS spending in the long term.”
In England alone, over 200,000 people are estimated to be living with chronic hepatitis B (HBV) – the majority are undiagnosed, unlinked to care and at higher risk of premature death from cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Professor Raj Mookerjee, Secretary of the British Association for the Study of the Liver said:
“The opt-out testing programme in Emergency Departments in England has identified an unprecedented number of new cases of hepatitis B, particularly from disadvantaged groups who are less likely to come forward for routine testing, and whose only interaction with healthcare services has been via emergency departments.
Although the surge in demand for services and access to treatment has added to NHS pressures, wwe must continue to work with policy makers to identify affected patients and address the health inequalities to ensure that everyone has access to the treatment and care that they need.”
Senior author of the research, Dr Kate Childs, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said:
“This program has successfully identified a large number of patients with hepatitis B infection, who were either undiagnosed or not in care. Many of those tested live in areas of deprivation and have difficulty in accessing healthcare. This program empowers this group of individuals to attend for hepatitis B care, prevent onwards transmission and reduce the long-term risk of complications including liver cancer. Adequate resources are needed to ensure that hepatitis services are able to review and treat these patients in a timely manner.”
In November 2023, NHS England expanded the scope of opt-out testing for HIV and viral hepatitis in emergency departments to 47 sites across England. The British Liver Trust is calling for opt-out testing to be made routinely available across the UK.
ENDS
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR INTERVIEW REQUESTS CONTACT media@britishlivertrust.org.uk
