CanNASH 2021 Welcome Letter

Our Conference has harnessed the biomedical expertise and energies of both societies to provide a comprehensive and cross-disciplinary update of recent insights into basic and clinical aspects of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), as well as its main associations including diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and liver diseases.

Due to the obesity and co-epidemic of type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease at the global level, and it affects one in four Canadians. NAFLD is an accumulation of fat in the liver. NAFLD can evolve to NASH, the most severe form of NAFLD, leading to cirrhosis and need for liver transplant. NASH is nowadays the second leading indication to liver transplant in North America, and is projected to become the main one within 10 years.

The theme of this conference will focus on discussing current knowledge and priority areas of research around NASH, including: 1. Frequency and risk factors of NASH in Canada; 2. Associated conditions, including diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease; 3. Non-invasive biomarkers to diagnose NASH without the need for the invasive liver biopsy; 3. Possible therapeutic approaches to NASH. This workshop will promote knowledge exchange among international key opinion leaders in the field and Canadian researchers. It will contribute to effective partnerships and outstanding research at national and global levels and put Canada at the forefront of the growing global concern around NASH. Senior scientists, young investigators, physicians, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students and representatives of the pharmaceutical industry will all benefit from the interactions available at this venue. We believe that this Conference will reflect the best of current NASH research.

Best regards,

Giada Sebastiani
Associate Professor of Medicine
Chair, Scientific Organizing Committee
Research Institute, McGill University Health Centre

Organizers

Giada Sebastiani
Associate Professor of Medicine
Chair, Scientific Organizing Committee
Research Institute, McGill University Health Centre

Vlad Ratziu
Professor of Medicine
Co-Chair, Scientific Organizing Committee
Sorbornne University and Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital

Jordan Feld
Associate Professor of Medicine
President of the Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver (CASL)
University of Toronto

CanNASH-CASL Co-Chairs:

Marc Bilodeau, University of Montréal
Peter Ghali, University of Florida
Keyur Patel, University of Toronto
Alnoor Ramji, University of British Columbia
Karen Seto, Canadian Liver Foundation
Mark Swain, University of Calgary