The Global NASH/MASH Council (GNC) and Global Liver Council (GLC) meeting, held in conjunction with ALEH 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico, brought together leading hepatology experts from Latin America and the global GNC/GLC network. The session was moderated by Professors Mário Pessoa, Marco Arrese, and Zobair Younossi and opened with an update by Dr. Younossi on GNC/GLC activities, including dozens of ongoing global research initiatives and the tremendous academic productivity of the GNC/GLC collaborative network.
The scientific program focused on the growing burden of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and steatotic liver disease (SLD) in Latin America. Dr. Francisco Idalsoaga reviewed the epidemiology of MASLD across the region, while Dr Luis Díaz Piga highlighted the importance of generating high-quality prospective Latin American SLD registry data. Professor Cristiane Villela addressed access to emerging MASLD therapies in Latin America, emphasizing regional challenges and opportunities as effective pharmacologic treatments become increasingly available.
The final portion of the meeting focused on strengthening Latin American participation and leadership within the GNC/GLC global research network. Professor Marco Arrese presented perspectives on expanding regional contributions to ongoing and future GNC/GLC projects, followed by an interactive discussion moderated by Professors Pessoa and Younossi. The discussion emphasized opportunities to enhance prospective data collection, expand multinational collaborations, increase the representation of Latin American populations in global studies, and develop research initiatives addressing priorities specific to the region.
The GNC/GLC remains committed to expanding meaningful global and regional collaboration, advancing high-quality research, promoting patient-centered care, and supporting policies that improve the awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of liver disease. The ALEH 2026 meeting further strengthened the partnership between the GNC/GLC and the Latin American hepatology community and reinforced our shared commitment to improving liver health outcomes throughout Latin America and worldwide.
