Chronic liver disease represents one of the major health burdens world-wide. In the UK alone, liver disease is the fifth most common cause of death. It is estimated that there are about 90,000 people in the UK with inflammatory liver disease. The only treatment capable of prolonging life in liver failure is a liver transplant. There are 600-700 liver transplants carried out each year in the UK. The Department of Health in their National Liver Standards reports says: "Unfortunately there are far more patients who could potentially benefit from liver transplantation than there are donor organs."

According to a British Society of Gastroenterology report, approximately 16,800 people in the UK have chronic Hepatitis C; approximately 24,000 will have alcohol-related abnormal liver function; 48,000 will have non-alcoholic liver disease.

The need for liver transplants is expected to increase five-fold within the next 10 years so we must develop new therapies as alternatives to liver transplants.

Core is currently funding two research projects into liver disease and has completed funding of a number of projects in recent years.

The two current projects are looking at liver fibrosis , a scarring of the liver, which follows all forms of chronic liver injury. Progressive fibrosis, which in its end stage causes cirrhosis, seriously impairs liver function.

Dr Shishir Shetty, University of Birmingham

Dr Andrew Fowell, University of Southampton

Dr Richard Johnston, Wolfson Digestive Diseases Centre

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