2024 AASLD Foundation Abstract Awardees

Khushboo Agrawal, PhD  
Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, India  
Abstract 197: Molecular Classification of Hepatocellular Carcinoma on Non-Cirrhotic Background: Integrating Immunohistochemistry Panel and Genomic Analysis

Young Chang, MD, PhD  
Soonchunhyang University, South Korea  
Abstract 3585: Therapeutic Potential of miR-660-5p and miR-125a-5p Antagonists in Attenuating Liver Fibrosis: Insights from Next-Generation Sequencing and Experimental Validation

Siyu Fu, MD  
Erasmus University Medical Center, Netherlands  
Abstract 132: DNA methylation of tumor tissues and circulating tumor DNA in early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hiroko Ikenaga, MD, PhD  
Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Japan  
Abstract 3550: Unlocking EPHX1-Mediated Alterations in Eicosatrienoic Acid Metabolism: Novel therapeutic Targets in Liver Fibrosis

Mercy Jelagat Karoney, MD  
Moi Univerisity School of Medicine, Kenya  
Abstract 1396: Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Western Kenya: Risk Factors, Diagnosis & Surgical Management

Dong Yun Kim, MD, PhD  
Yonsei University, South Korea  
Abstract 2045: Identifying Candidates for Liver Biopsy in Metabolic-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: Machine Learning-Based Predictive Models

Sandy Mpho Mosenye MBChB, FCP(SA), MMed  
University of Cape Town, South Africa  
Abstract 4372: Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis in South Africa - a single centre experience

Lesley Patmore, MD  
Erasmus Medical Center, Netherlands  
Abstract 96: Performance of the CAGE-B and SAGE-B scores for prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis B patients with advanced fibrosis

Tom Ryu MD, PhD  
Soonchunhyang University, South Korea  
Abstract 3437: Investigation for diagnostic value of circulating tumor DNA for the early HBV-derived HCC by profiling fragmentation

Maria Spencer Sandino, MS  
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile  
Abstract 2395: New steatotic liver disease diagnostic performance in a Chilean agricultural population cohort

Richard L. Morrow, PhD  
University of British Columbia, Canada  
Abstract 1344: Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on treatment for hepatitis B in British Columbia, Canada: an interrupted time series analysis

 
Or Steg Saban, MD  
The Hospital for Sick children, Canada  
Abstract 76: Serum IgG reflects histological activity in children with autoimmune hepatitis

Lisa Catalli MSN, NP-C  
University of California San Francisco Medical Center, United States  
Abstract 181: Enhanced Patient Knowledge and Confidence in Managing Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Through Behavioral Resources and Intervention Through Digital Group Education (BRIDGE): A Shared Medical Appointment Program

Alana Saddic, MSN, AGACNP-BC  
Virginia Commonwealth University, United States  
Abstract 2149: Health Literacy and Education Level are Determinants of Disease Severity in Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease

Divya Ayyala-Somayajula, MD, MAS 
Thomas Jefferson University, United States 
Abstract 121: Outcomes of the Alcohol-Associated Hepatitis Bridge Clinic at a Safety-Net Hospital: A Prospective Pilot Study

Saleha Aziz, MBBS 
University of Mississippi Medical Center, United States 
Abstract 4170: Rising Mortality Trends Among Adults with Chronic Kidney Disease and Cirrhosis in the United States (1999 to 2020): A Study of Health Disparities

Ashley Jowell, MD, MS 
Duke University School of Medicine, United States 
Abstract 179: Variable Treatment and Access to Liver Transplantation for Alcohol Associated Liver Disease: The California Liver Network

 
Chawin Lopimpisuth, MD 
University of Miami/Jackson Health System, United States 
Abstract 2498: Center-level Variability in Utilizing Normothermic Machine Perfusion and the Association with Recipient Insurance

Nicole Ng, MD 
New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell, United States 
Abstract 2556: Racial and Gender Disparities in Access to Living Donor Liver Transplantation Between 1999-2021

Syed Ahmed 
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, India 
Abstract 68: Carvedilol does not prevent decompensation in patients with compensated cirrhosis without high-risk varices with clinically significant portal hypertension defined by non-invasive tests: a randomised controlled trial

Kanit Bunnag, MD 
Phramongkutklao Hospital and College of Medicine, Thailand 
Abstract 4098: Comparison of 1 Day Versus 5 Days of Octreotide Infusion Along With Endoscopic Therapy in Preventing Early Rebleeding and Mortality from Esophageal Varices: A Nationwide, Multicenter, Non-Inferiority, Randomized Control Trial

Saruul Enkhjargal, MD, MS 
National University of Mongolia, Mongolia 
Abstract 1145: Successful development of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay (LAMP-PCR) for detection HDV-RNA

 
Yanna Liu, MD 
Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, China 
Abstract 1524: Machine Learning of CT Images for Noninvasive Discrimination of Porto-sinusoidal Vascular Disease from Cirrhosis in Patients with Portal Hypertension

Chloe Boehm, BS 
Weill Cornell Medicine, United States  
Abstract 155: Novel host factors in hepatitis B viral surface antigen production identified by genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screen

Sudrishti Chaudhary, PhD  
University of Pittsburgh, United States  
Abstract 145: Alpha diversity analysis of hepatic transcriptome reveals distinct signatures and predicts novel pathways in alcohol-related hepatitis.

Scott Davies, PhD  
University of Birmingham, United Kingdom  
Abstract 4322: E-cadherin expression by CD8+ T cells is increased in patients with primary biliary cholangitis and promotes their invasion into biliary epithelial cells

Qianqian Guo, MD, MS  
Mayo Clinic, United States  
Abstract 142: Lipid induced Endothelial Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM1) Promotes Liver Inflammation in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH)

Siddhi Jain, PhD  
University of Pittsburgh, United States  
Abstract 2472: Targeted Deletion of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Hepatocytes Mitigates Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Damage and Enhances Compensatory Regeneration in Mice

Niharika Jakhar, MS 
University Hospital RWTH, Aachen, Germany  
Abstract 114: The proteome differentiates  MetALD from MASLD and identifies patients at risk

Seiya Kato, MD  
Osaka University, Japan  
Abstract 1520: Hepatic congestion promotes liver pathogenesis through the activation of Integrin αV-YAP/TAZ-CTGF axis in LSECs

Mengyun Ke, PhD  
University of Pittsburgh, United States  
Abstract 93: The Protective Role of Sulfiredoxin-1 (SRXN1) in Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury

Claudia Rose Keating, BS  
Loyola University Chicago, United States  
Abstract 234: The role of Sirt2 and downstream signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma progression

Pooja Muddasani, MS  
University of Pittsburgh, United States  
Abstract 101: Hepatic Grp78/BiP Overexpression Protects Against Enhanced MASLD by Vinyl Chloride.

Kazuya Okushin, MD, PhD  
The University of Tokyo, Japan  
Abstract 59: Heterozygous Knockout of Bile Salt Export Pump Induces Alterations in the Gut-Liver Axis Including Gut Microbiota in Mice Fed a High-fat Diet

Estanislao Peixoto, PhD  
Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, United States  
Abstract 3363: Cholangiocytes' Primary Cilia Regulates DNA Damage Response and Repair

Maria Fernanda Raya Tonetti, PhD 
University of California San Diego, United States  
Abstract 80: Absence of intestinal Mucin-2 Promotes Goblet Cell-associated Antigen Passages Formation to Prevent Ethanol-induced Steatohepatitis in mice.

Yu Sato, MD  
Osaka University, Japan  
Abstract 169: Regnase-1 down-regulation contributes to myeloid cell intermediated ICC development

Jayesh Kumar Sevak, PhD 
Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, India  
Abstract 1400: Immuno-metabolic driven hepatitis B surface antigen seroconversion in mild and severe hepatitis B reactivation

Aarti Sharma 
Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, India  
Abstract 220: Hepatic lymphangiogenesis regulates biliary cell proliferation during liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy  

 

Bhupesh Singla, PhD 
University of Tennessee Health Science Center, United States  
Abstract 1055: Hepatic R-spondin 2 is a key suppressor of hepatosteatosis.

Banrida Wahlang, PhD  
University of Louisville, United States  
Abstract 2441: The liver-endocrine axis plays a mechanistic role in driving chemical plus diet-induced steatotic liver disease in females

Grayson Way, MS  
Virginia Commonwealth Univeristy, United States  
Abstract 118: snRNAseq and GeoMx spatial transcriptomics elucidate the cell-type-specific roles of lncRNA H19 in cholestatic liver injury

Lei Zhang, PhD  
Yale University, United States  
Abstract 146: Role of OGT-TFF2 axis in intrahepatic crosstalk and MASH pathogenesis

Chunmiao Cai, PhD 
Mayo Clinic, United States 
Abstract 237: In vivo screening for targets to block immune escape in hepatocellular carcinoma

Benjamin Cailes, MBBS (Hons), BMedSci (Hons), FRACP 
University of Melbourne & Austin Health, Australia 
Abstract 33: Abdominal Aortic Calcification - A Novel Cardiac Risk Prediction Tool in Liver Transplantation

Tamir Diamond, MD, MSTR 
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia/University of Pennsylvania, United States 
Abstract 36: Circulating Activated Tissue Resident Memory CD8+ T cell Population is a Unique Feature of Pediatric Activated T-cell Acute Liver Failure and Hepatitis Associated Aplastic Anemia

 
Marisa da Fonseca Ferreira, IMVM, MScR, AFHEA, DipECVIM-CA (Internal Medicine), MRCVS 
The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom 
Abstract 116: Biliary senescence drives hepatocyte VCAM-1 expression and liver neutrophil infiltration

 
Reeti Gulati, MD 
Duke University Medical Center, United States 
Abstract 3229: Real World Data Assessing the Impact of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease

Shivangi Gupta, MBBS 
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Australia 
Abstract 105: Muscle mass, frailty and cardiopulmonary exercise testing: correlations and impact on liver transplant outcomes

Soo Young Hwang, MD, MPH 
University of Maryland Midtown Campus, United States 
Abstract 69: Gastrointestinal and liver adverse effects of medical treatments of alcohol use disorder: a pharmacovigilance analysis of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database

Abdellatif Ismail, MD 
University of Maryland Medical Center, Midtown Campus, United States 
Abstract 171: AHEAD, A Novel Validated Machine Learning Model for Clinical Diagnosis of Alcohol-Associated Hepatitis

Henriette Kreimeyer, MD 
University of California San Diego, United States 
Abstract 38: Fecal proteomics links neutrophil degranulation with mortality in patients with alcohol-associated hepatitis

Wonseok Lee, PharmD, PhD 
University of California San Diego, United States 
Abstract 3620: Deletion of ETS1 in hepatic stellate cells accelerates development of liver fibrosis

Wenqi Li, MBBS 
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, United States 
Abstract 123: Intrinsic NF-κB activation controls cellular defects, viral susceptibility, and macrophage activation in biliary atresia cholangiocytes

Yingluo Liu, PhD 
University of California San Diego, United States 
Abstract 41: Enhancing Cytotoxic CD8+ T Cell Response for Liver Cancer Treatment using polyIC-Containing Ionizable Lipid Nanoparticles via activating Hepatocellular Type I IFN pathway

Ruixue Ma, MD, PhD candidate 
Yale University, United States 
Abstract 6: Hepatic Artery Flow-Induced Portal Tract Remodeling and Fibrosis in Portal Hypertension: The Role of VCAM-1 and Osteopontin-Expressing Macrophages

Babak Mirminachi, MD, MPH 
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, United States 
Abstract 216: Long-term Outcomes of Bariatric Surgery in Patients with Combined Metabolic Dysfunction and Increased Alcohol Consumption (MetALD)

Samiran Mukherjee, MD, MSTR 
 Mount Sinai Hospital New York, United States 
Abstract 71: Clinical and Genetic Characteristics of Patients with Histologic Steatosis Defined by Natural Language Processing in the MVP Liver Biopsy Cohort

Burçin  Özdirik, MD 
University of California San Diego, United States 
Abstract 42: Fecal cytolysin is associated with a poorer outcome in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis

Zayed Rashid, MD 
The Ohio State University, United States 
Abstract 9: Impact of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists on the Risk of Adverse Liver Outcomes among Patients with Alcohol-associated Liver Disease and Type 2 Diabetes.

Vincenzo Ronca, MD, MA 
Humanitas University, Italy 
Abstract 186: Fibrate-Oca (FI-OCA) Study - a Global snapshot of PBC practice around the Globe

Andrea Tou, MBBCh, BAO 
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, United States 
Abstract 166: GLP-1 Receptor Agonists have a potential to improve disease activity in Pediatric Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease

Ashley Upton, BS, RDMS, RVT 
Texas Children's Hospital, United States 
Abstract 232: An Ultrasound Approach to Visualize the 'Duct at the Hilum' in Infants Undergoing Evaluation for Biliary Atresia