Donna Cryer

Over the years, federal research has responded by sparking significant breakthroughs and achievements like the cure for Hepatitis C. It’s clear that when federal agencies support liver disease, liver cancer research and liver public health programs, it leads to better health and well-being for people across the nation. Therefore, it’s disheartening that the recent American Rescue Plan (ARP), which Congress passed in early March, provided COVID-19-related public health programs and research support, but failed to address the impact of the pandemic on vital liver disease research and specific liver disease public health programs.

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Few liver health advocacy organizations have policy staff or personnel in Washington, DC. To fill this gap, we provide liver health policy updates to report on timely information and actionable updates on activities relevant to liver health, including liver cancer, viral hepatitis, autoimmune liver conditions as well as issues that span conditions, such as coverage or other policy decisions.

The Need to Support the Restart of Liver Disease Medical Research and Public Health Programs

As COVID-19 vaccination programs are expanding in scale across the United States, it is easy to neglect the fact that effective containment of the pandemic requires not only mass vaccination to establish herd immunity, but also timely testing to prevent the virus from being transmitted from person to person unchecked. However, the number of COVID-19 tests being conducted in the United States is plummeting at an alarming rate, towards which medical professionals and public health experts are expressing concern. In this update, we will walk you through why fewer Americans are getting tested, the importance of expanding the scale of testing despite mass vaccination, and how you can stay vigilant about getting tested when necessary, per the guidance below.

The COVID-19 Response Program for Patients features information tailored to the special needs of patients living with pediatric liver disease, rare liver disease, NASH, pre/post liver transplant and liver cancer.

More Vaccines, Fewer Tests: Why COVID-19 Testing Remains Important

(Washington, D.C., November 16, 2020) –

 The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs’ (CDMRP) Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) consumer advocate Steven West recently participated in the evaluation of research applications submitted to the PRCRP. Steven, alumnus of the GLI Advanced Advocacy Academy, was nominated for participation in the program by Global Liver Institute. As a consumer reviewer, he was a full voting member (along with prominent scientists) at meetings to help determine how the $110 million appropriated by Congress for Fiscal Year 2020 will be spent on cancer research.

Consumer reviewers are asked to represent the collective view of patients by preparing comments on the impact of the research on issues such as diagnosis, treatment and quality of life. When commenting on serving as a consumer reviewer, Steven said, “It was a privilege to work with such world-renowned scientists, and to be able to participate in decisions that have positive life altering impacts on patients and families.”

Consumer advocates and scientists have worked together in this unique partnership to evaluate the merit of research applications since FY09. COL Sarah B. Goldman, Director of the CDMRP, expressed her appreciation for the consumer advocates’ hard work. “Integrating consumer perspectives into our decision-making process brings energy and focus to our research programs. Patients, caregivers, family members, and advocates help us keep our efforts centered around what is truly important to those impacted. We very much value this critical input from our consumers who help ensure that CDMRP’s work remains critical and relevant,” she said.

Scientists applying propose to support and promote high-impact research for cancer prevention, detection, treatment, quality of life and survivorship, and decreasing the burden of cancer on Service members, their families and the American public. The PRCRP fills important gaps not addressed by other funding agencies by supporting groundbreaking research while encouraging out-of-the-box thinking.

More information about the CDMRP’s PRCRP is available at the website: 

The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs’ (CDMRP), Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) consumer advocate Steven West recently participated in the evaluation of research applications submitted to the PRCRP.

Scientific Peer Review of Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs’ Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program for the Department of Defense

The effects of the novel coronavirus pandemic on liver patients’ ability to access non-COVID-19 related care have been broad and pervasive. The guidance for initiation of treatment and management for patients with viral hepatitis, transplant and cancer have been in flux during this unprecedented time of COVID for several months. In this update, I will focus on information for liver cancer patients and the efforts Global Institute is taking to help to define impactful, long term solutions.

The COVID-19 Response Program for Patients features information tailored to the special needs of patients living with pediatric liver disease, rare liver disease, NASH, pre & post liver transplant, and liver cancer.

Donna Cryer

The Need to Support the Restart of Liver Disease Medical Research and Public Health Programs

More Vaccines, Fewer Tests: Why COVID-19 Testing Remains Important

Scientific Peer Review of Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs’ Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program for the Department of Defense

Focus on Liver Cancer (HCC) Care

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