In April 2026, the GRIPonMASH consortium gathered in Rome, Italy, for its third Annual Meeting, bringing together researchers, clinicians, industry partners, patient advocates, and healthcare innovators from across Europe. Hosted at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, the two-day meeting focused on advancing collaborative efforts to improve the early identification and management of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).
The meeting highlighted the strong momentum of the project as the consortium continues building integrated approaches for earlier detection, improved risk stratification, and more patient-centered care pathways for people at cardiometabolic risk.
A key milestone highlighted during the meeting was the ongoing progress of the GRIPonMASH clinical study, with recruitment continuing to advance across participating centers throughout Europe. Consortium partners presented updates on ongoing work related to:
- Screening and risk stratification approaches
- Biomarker research and validation
- Decision-support tools
- Lifestyle and prevention strategies
- Ethical, regulatory, and sustainability considerations
- Stakeholder engagement and communication
The consortium also welcomed several new partners contributing expertise in diagnostics, biomarkers, digital pathology, and healthcare innovation. Their involvement further strengthens the multidisciplinary nature of the project and supports the development of scalable solutions for liver health management.
Focus on Earlier Detection and Integrated Care
Throughout the meeting, speakers emphasized the importance of identifying liver disease earlier in individuals with cardiometabolic risk factors such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Presentations and discussions explored how digital tools, non-invasive testing strategies, and integrated care pathways may help support healthcare professionals in identifying patients earlier and guiding appropriate follow-up care. Several sessions also focused on how liver health can be better connected with broader cardiovascular and metabolic care.
The consortium reaffirmed its commitment to supporting practical, evidence-based approaches that can be implemented across different healthcare systems and clinical settings.
Supporting the Next Generation of Researchers
An important part of the Annual Meeting was dedicated to early-career researchers, who presented work on topics including lifestyle factors, cardiometabolic risk, dietary interventions, and data-driven approaches to liver disease research.
These sessions highlighted the growing scientific community working in the field of MASLD/MASH and demonstrated the collaborative spirit of the consortium in fostering innovation and cross-disciplinary learning.
Patient Impact and Public Health Remain Central
Across all sessions, consortium members emphasized the importance of ensuring that scientific advances ultimately translate into meaningful improvements for patients and healthcare systems.
The meeting also reinforced the value of collaboration with patient organizations, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and other stakeholders to help raise awareness of liver health and improve pathways to care across Europe.
As GRIPonMASH enters its next phase, the consortium will continue working toward its shared goal of improving the identification and management of liver disease in people with cardiometabolic risk.
The next Annual Meeting will take place in Athens, Greece, where partners will continue building on the progress and collaborations established.
