The American Liver Foundation (ALF) presented three liver research awards to early career scientists focusing on basic and translational research, according to an ALF news release.

The awards, the Liver Scholar Award, the Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Award and a Travel Award will help fund scientists researching liver biology and disease.

“Funding early career scientists with a passion for liver disease research is critical to advancing our understanding of liver disease,” said Lorraine Stiehl, ALF’s chief executive officer, in the news release. “We’re so pleased to help fund some of the best and the brightest research scientists and look forward to what their research advances will yield as we seek to find improved treatments and cures for liver patients.” 

More than 100 million people in the United States have some form of liver disease, according to the ALF. If left untreated, liver disease can progress to liver failure and liver cancer.

ALF’s research awards program has provided more than $27 million in research funding to over 850 qualified scientists and physicians since 1979. These awards have encouraged early career researchers to pursue careers in liver biology, disease and treatment.

“ALF’s renewed commitment to funding research is inspiring, and I am so pleased to work with our medical and research advisors to advance the research program,” said Helene Jordan, PhD, the national director of research program management. “Our focus will be to strengthen the researcher pipeline, fund innovative research, fill gaps in liver disease research and amplify the patient voice.”

The Liver Scholar Award supports the research of junior faculty to help them “bridge the gap between completion of research training and attainment of status as an independent, well-funded research scientist,” according to ALF.

The Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Award provides a supplementary, one-year stipend of $25,000 to support trainees with living expenses, which can allow them to focus on investigational work as well as they transition to a career in independent research.

Coming later this year, the Travel Award is given to junior investigators and provides funding for conference registration and travel costs so that they can present their research at conferences and connect with fellow investigators in their field.

For more information about ALF’s research award program, visit liverfoundation.org/research.