Liver disease is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, affecting persons of all ages, but most frequently individuals in the productive years of life, between the ages of 40 and 60 years. Liver disease also disproportionately affects minority individuals and the economically disadvantaged. Medical research on liver disease is critically important and further progress in research promises to bring under control the major toll of liver disease on human health and well-being. Indeed, the last 25 years of medical research in liver disease have resulted in major improvements in the survival and quality-of-life of patients with liver disease. The next 25 years should bring even more profound and important changes.
To address the burden of liver diseases in the United States, the National Institutes of Health developed a 10-year Action Plan for Liver Disease Research, which was released in 2004.
Mission Statement
The goal of the Action Plan for Liver Disease Research is to advance research on liver and biliary diseases with the aim of decreasing the burden of liver and biliary diseases in the United States.
Availability
The report is available:
- electronically using the PDF(s) linked below. Documents in PDF format require the free Adobe Acrobat Reader External application for viewing.
Progress Reviews
The objective of these Progress Reviews was to aid in the implementation of the trans-NIH Action Plan for Liver Disease Research through an ongoing assessment of progress and the need for further efforts to promote liver and biliary disease research.
Archives
The Action Plan for Liver Disease Research can be downloaded through the NIDDK Archives.
Comments Welcome
Comments on the Progress Reviews and Action Plan are encouraged.
Please send your comments to liverplan@mail.nih.gov