• Period of stay: 14 to 19 November 2024

Report

In late November, I had the opportunity to attend the 75th Liver Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) in San Diego, USA. There I had the opportunity to present our latest research on retinoic acid treatment in the development of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). This was a valuable opportunity not only to show our work, but also to receive feedback from distinguished experts in the field. The discussions that followed my presentation were particularly insightful, with constructive questions and comments that have already inspired ideas for possible future directions of our research.

The meeting offered a variety of sessions, with a special emphasis on the field of metabolic liver diseases, which is closely tied to my research interests. These sessions provided in-depth updates on the mechanisms underlying MASLD, novel therapeutic targets, and clinical trial outcomes. Beyond the sessions, the conference provided a platform for networking and interdisciplinary exchange. I was able to meet some experts in medical nutrition science and medicine especially in the field of hepatology, and had the opportunity to discuss the different scientific approaches of each field.

I am grateful to my supervisor, Prof. Ina Bergheim, for her continued guidance and support, and to the Vienna Doctoral School PhaNuSpo for the generous Travel Grant that made my participation in this conference possible. Overall, my attendance at the 75th AASLD Liver Meeting was both professionally rewarding and personally inspiring, leaving me motivated and full of ideas for the next stages of my research journey.