In the last decades, a series of impressive advancements in the care of deadly liver diseases have taken place in consequence of breakthrough discoveries that came through at an unprecedented pace with respect to previous years. Prevention and effective treatment of the lethal consequences of viral hepatitis, comprehension of the mechanisms causing metabolic liver diseases and life-saving treatments of liver cancer to name some, stand as illuminating examples of this success.

Instrumental to these achievements was the hard work of numerous teams of scientists  and clinicians actively engaged in the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), a synergy that further helped EASL to grow in scientific reputation worldwide while strengthening its commitment to disseminate education in the care of liver patients and backing research programs in top laboratories across Europe.

However, while the clinical benefits of all these scientific achievements have been crystal clear to the vast arena of the hepatologists, this is not completely true for a majority of the liver patients, general practitioners and, generally speaking, for members of the global society. To fill this educational gap, EASL has established the International Liver Foundation which, in full synergy with EASL, has the mandate to foster educational programs on liver disease management outside the european borders, raise funds and liaise with other scientific institutions to power the research activity of european centres and increase awareness in the field of liver disease relying on both institutional and private resourches.

We believe that the Foundation will succeed in achieving these goals as it can rely on the strong commitment towards science and education of the members EASL and the generous support of all those who believe in the power of mankind.