EASL SLD Summit 2026 Scientific Programme
The EASL SLD Summit 2026 will offer a rich, multi-day exploration of the latest advances in Steatotic Liver Disease (SLD), including MASLD, MetALD, and ALD. The programme blends clinical education, public health perspectives, and cutting-edge scientific developments, creating a dynamic forum for interaction between early-career researchers and established experts in the field.
The Summit opens with a session examining the scale and evolving epidemiology of SLD. Speakers will explore how environmental and policy-level factors—such as urban planning, health regulations, and especially the rise of ultra-processed foods—shape the “pro-SLD” environment. This sets the stage for a broader discussion on prevention and the societal drivers of liver disease.
A strong focus will be placed on patient care pathways across the full SLD spectrum. Key questions will be tackled: Who should assess liver fibrosis and cardiovascular risk? Who should deliver addiction therapy? What is the best strategy for ensuring continuity and personalization of care—especially when transitioning patients from adolescence to adulthood?
Throughout the programme, participants will gain insight into the integration of the latest diagnostic tools and technologies into clinical and research settings. Sessions will highlight the use of big data and artificial intelligence—including deep learning and transformers—in imaging and pathology, while exploring the promise and limitations of emerging tools like spatial and single-cell omics.
Advances in experimental models such as organoid bioengineering will be presented, alongside new findings in genetics, metagenomics, and metabolomics. These tools are shedding light on inter-organ cross-talk and the multiorgan nature of SLD, with a particular focus on the liver–gut–brain–adipose tissue axis.
Therapeutic innovation remains central to the programme. The Summit will address the evolving landscape of treatment options for MASH, MetALD, and cirrhosis, including liver- and metabolically-directed therapies. Discussion will also focus on clinical trial endpoints—whether fibrosis or clinical outcomes should guide therapeutic goals—and reflect on updates from the recent EASL/AASLD endpoints conference.
On the final day, the Summit will conclude with a forward-looking session on what lies ahead for the field: the potential of genetics in treatment, the feasibility of pan-SLD drug development, and the skills future specialists will need to navigate this rapidly evolving domain.
Programme overview
Discover the sessions
Session 1: The scale of SLD
SLD is now a leading cause of liver-related morbidity worldwide, with evolving epidemiology driven by societal and environmental changes. This session explores what is fuelling the increasing burden of SLD—from global dietary shifts and ultra-processed foods to public policy challenges. It will critically examine how external drivers shape the “pro-SLD environment” and what levers can be pulled at the policy level to alter its trajectory.
Session 2: Whose job is it in the SLD arena?
Effective management of SLD requires a multidisciplinary approach—but who is responsible for what? This session will address the roles of various healthcare professionals in assessing liver fibrosis, cardiovascular risk, and delivering addiction therapy. By exploring practical implementation strategies, this session aims to clarify roles, identify gaps, and promote collaboration in patient care pathways.
Session 3: Artificial intelligence in SLD
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming medicine, and SLD is no exception. This session will explore how big data, deep learning, and AI-powered imaging are enhancing our understanding and diagnosis of SLD. Speakers will present emerging tools that are redefining pathology interpretation and diagnostic precision, while a panel will reflect on challenges in integration into clinical workflows, regulatory approval of AI tools, and real-world clinical applicability.
State-of-the-Art 1: Adipose Tissue – the Seat of the Problem?
Adipose tissue plays a central role in metabolic health and SLD progression. This lecture will dissect the contribution of dysfunctional adipose tissue to inflammation, fibrosis, and metabolic derailment, reinforcing its role as a key therapeutic and diagnostic target.
Session 4: Clinical questions in SLD
SLD presents complex clinical challenges across the disease spectrum. This session will examine how liver transplantation practices are evolving for MASLD and ALD, whether HCC in SLD has distinct behavior or biology, and how adolescent patients with SLD can be transitioned effectively into adult care. The discussion will bridge current evidence with real-world dilemmas.
Session 5: OMICs and new experimental tools
The integrative fusion of omics technologies is unlocking new insights into SLD. This session will explore avant-garde technologies of single-cell and spatial omics, genomics, and microbiome profiling to uncover molecular drivers and identify susceptible populations. It will also highlight how the synergy between multi-omics and organoid bioengineering can help model complex multiorgan interactions in SLD and disease modelling.
Session 6: Immunity and inter-organ cross-talk
SLD is increasingly recognised as a multisystem disease. This session will highlight new findings on immunological networks in MASLD, metabolomic models of organ cross-talk, and the gut–brain–liver axis in ALD. Together, these perspectives underline the systemic nature of SLD and point to unveil novel intervention outputs.
State-of-the-Art 2: How to detect and treat AUD?
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a major driver of liver disease but often goes undetected or untreated. This lecture will offer evidence-based strategies for screening, diagnosing, and managing AUD, with a focus on practical tools for liver clinics and integrated care pathways.
Session 7: Developing therapies for SLD
With multiple therapeutic targets emerging, the future of SLD treatment is taking shape. This session will review the development of metabolic- and liver-directed therapies and address treatment goals in cirrhosis.
Session 8: Diagnostic tests in SLD
Diagnosis is the cornerstone of effective SLD care, but major challenges remain. This session will examine the utility of blood tests versus clinical history in detecting alcohol use, the design of referral pathways that lead to meaningful intervention, and the long-term role of practitioners in managing both liver health and addiction. The discussion will focus on integration and continuity of care.
State-of-the-Art 3: MetALD: prognostic and therapeutic implications
MetALD represents a convergence of metabolic and alcohol-related liver disease. This lecture will explore its clinical relevance, distinct pathophysiology, and the implications for prognosis, diagnosis, and therapy—positioning MetALD as a key category in the SLD landscape.
Session 9: Scanning the horizon
What does the future hold for SLD research and care? This final session looks ahead—assessing the potential of genetics to guide treatment, debating the feasibility of pan-SLD drug development, and identifying the core competencies needed for future SLD specialists. A horizon-scanning discussion to close the Summit.