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Apr
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Funding is for 2 Clinical Research Fellows in Hepatology to contribute to the further development of an extensive research program. These posts will commence in September on a fixed term contract for 12 months in the first instance, renewable for a maximum of 3 years depending on progress towards an MD or PhD.
There has been significant investment and growth in liver research at the Peninsula Medical School, with excellent laboratory facilities present adjacent to Derriford Hospital at the Derriford Research Facility where the Hepatology Research Group ( https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/hepatology-research-group ) and the Centre of Environmental Hepatology (https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/centre-of-environmental-hepatology ) are based. Active clinical research programs span alcohol related liver disease, the use of big data and AI for early liver disease detection, to mechanisms of protection from viral hepatitis. The Centre of Environmental Hepatology, led by Professor Shilpa Chokshi, has a cutting edge and expanding program of translational and basic science work looking at the impact of micro- and nanolastics on liver health. The research programs are delivered and supported by a strong team of senior post-doctoral scientists, clinical research fellows, and PhD students.
Read and apply via the NHS Jobs website under reference 216-G3-HEP7796852
Closing date extended to 20th April 2026
Informal enquiries welcomed with interviews scheduled for April - please contact Professor Matthew Cramp or Professor Ashwin Dhanda, matthew.cramp@nhs.net or ashwin.dhanda@plymouth.ac.uk.
Mar
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Drs Ian and Barbara McFarlane were a husband-and-wife team who worked on, and made important contributions to, the basic immunology of autoimmune liver disease between 1970 and 2000 at the Liver Unit King’s College Hospital. Later, in collaboration with clinical colleagues they contributed to the establishment of what was to become the standard approach to treatment of autoimmune hepatitis with corticosteroids and azathioprine, as published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1995. Ian was to found the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group in1992 and became, until his retirement in 2006, Senior Scientist on the Liver Unit.
An Obituary for Drs Ian and Barbara McFarlane was published in May 2022 in the Journal of Hepatology, read more > Here.
The McFarlane family now wish to make an annual grant of £10,000 to support research into liver disease in memory of Ian and Barbara.
The grant is open to all healthcare professionals who are BASL members and based in the UK and although preference may be given to research related to autoimmune liver disease any area of research into liver disease will be considered.
Applications will be reviewed, awarded and administered by the British Association for the Study of the Liver (BASL).
The Awardee will be expected to attend the BASL Annual Meeting in 2026 to receive the award and also attend and provide a 15 minute presentation (allow 3 minutes for questions) at the following year’s BASL Annual Meeting (2027), in one of the oral sessions. A photograph may be taken at the meeting and used afterwards on the BASL website, in the Newsletter and on social media platforms.
The grant is intended to fully or part fund a period of research for up to one year. This may be a stand-alone project or part of a longer term project.
The grant is paid to the award recipients Institution.
Eligibility
The grant is open to all healthcare professionals trying to develop their career and although preference may be given to research related to autoimmune liver disease any area of research into liver disease will be considered.
- Applications are open across the BASL membership from; HCP’s in training, Nurses, Pharmacists, Scientists and AHP’s.
- Grant applicants will only be accepted from BASL / BLNA / BHPG / BAAL members who are based in the UK
How to apply
- Applicants should complete the short application form.
- A letter of support from your line manager is also required, one page maximum.
- Both documents should be emailed to the BASL Secretariat, admin@basl.org.uk by 17:00hrs on Friday 5th June.
Application Documents:
Download the full Applicant Guide > HERE
Download an Application Form > HERE
OR contact admin@basl.org.uk and request a word version of the application form via email.
NB: Grant applications will only be accepted on the application form.
Closing date: 17:00hrs Friday 5th June.
Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
Notification of outcome of the applications by 10th July.
Any queries may be addressed to admin@basl.org.uk .
Mar
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The Falk Foundation, BASL, British Liver Trust Awards are supported by the Falk Foundation.
Falk Foundation, BASL and the British Liver Trust all agree in the power of shared understanding to improve patient outcomes. These awards recognise the need to share excellence in clinical service development and improvements that have clear benefit for people with liver disease. Such work is rarely that of one individual or discipline, thus these awards are designed to enable teams to develop an idea or continue their work.
The awards represent an opportunity to achieve national recognition as well as financial support for career progression.
Falk Foundation / BASL Innovation Award
One award up to a value of £2,000 for a project proposal in start-up, which would be completed prospectively over 12-24 months.
The lead applicant will need a local mentor to support the project and will be supported to ensure the success of the project.
The award is identified to facilitate research in an area relevant to improving either clinical service development or offering a benefit to patients with liver disease.
Falk Foundation / BASL Quality and Service Improvement Awards
Two awards with a value of £1,000 to recognise work and projects in progress and / or completed within the last 3 years for which evidence of benefit can be shown.
These awards are open to any team of healthcare professionals working in liver disease developing initiatives that have improved patient care.
Applications for both Awards are via the BASL website with a separate application form for each Award.
Click on the appropriate link below to start your application:
Innovation Award > CLICK HERE
Quality and Service Improvement Awards > CLICK HERE
Please download a copy of the Guidance for Applicants document before making your application:
Download Falk_Foundation_BASL_Award_Guidance_for_Applicants_2026.pdf
NB: these are team awards and the lead applicant for both Awards must be a BASL member.
Important dates 2026:
Applications Open 30th March
Applications Deadline - 17:00hrs 5th June
Notification of winners by 10th July
Presentation of the Awards with be during the BASL 2026 Annual Meeting at the ICC, Newport, Wales: 6th - 9th October.
BASL is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of its work and is actively promoting equal opportunities to our activities, including our awards, for all our members regardless of their background, place of work or professional group. We welcome applications from all disciplines in the field of liver healthcare.
Mar
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The BASL community is profoundly saddened by the death of Dr Ahmed Elsharkawy.
Ahmed was Consultant Hepatologist at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. His passion and commitment to the development of services for patients living with liver disease and viral hepatitis specifically was inexhaustible.
At BASL, he was both Chair of the British Viral Hepatitis Group and, more recently, Treasurer where he had a major impact on our society. He undertook this role in a way that all that knew him would recognise; he was honest, thoughtful, direct, and always guided by what was going to be the best for the future of BASL and UK Hepatology.
He will be greatly missed by the UK and International Hepatology communities. At BASL we will miss his never-ending enthusiasm, his wise counsel, and above all his commitment to improving care for patients living with liver disease.
Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time.
Mar
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The EASL Guidelines Academy is a training initiative designed to help doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals apply the latest official clinical guidelines in real-world practice.
This EASL Guidelines Academy focuses specifically on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and provides hands-on, intensive training to help participants better understand the disease, improve screening and diagnosis, confidently use the latest tools and procedures, work effectively in multidisciplinary teams, and promote liver disease awareness and prevention.
Modules 1–4 are open to hepatologists, endocrinologists, and other relevant specialists who are board-certified or in their final year of training. Module 5 is dedicated to nurses and allied health professionals involved in MASLD care (MDs may apply, but nurses will be prioritised).
Visit the EASL website to learn more> https://easl.eu/easl-masld-guidelines-academy/
Feb
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No One Left Behind focusses on lesser-known liver diseases which are misunderstood and lack the profile of other health conditions.
Rare liver diseases affect tens of thousands of adults and children across the UK every day. Delays in diagnosis, limited access to specialist care, and low public and professional awareness contribute to inequities in treatment and outcomes for those living with these conditions. No One Left Behind aims to provide support to everyone affected, raise awareness and increase understanding, promote earlier diagnosis and more investment in research.
Find out more at Britishlivertrust.org.uk/nooneleftbehind.
Feb
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The BASL Trainee Subcommittee was formed to increase regional representation for hepatology interested trainees and is formed of 8 regional representatives.
A vote will take place of the BASL Trainee members to select their representative in the following regions where there is more than one candidate:
• South East
• North East
• North West
• Scotland
If your region isn’t included above this means there was only one candidate or there was no interest in representing a region, however, you still have the option to take part and lend your support to a candidate in a different region.
Candidates have submitted a personal statement explaining why they want to represent their region and what they can bring to the BASL Trainee Subcommittee. Representatives will be elected to represent their region by a simple majority of those members voting.
Key roles will be in the promotion of hepatology locally and assistance in delivering BASL Trainee Educational events. You can view the BASL Trainee Subcommittee Aims document >Here
BASL Trainee members will receive an email containing the voting link and are given 1 vote which can be used in the region of their choice.
Voting deadline - 17:00hrs Tuesday 17th March 2026.
Not received the voting link? Contact admin@basl.org.uk .
Thank you for taking part.
Feb
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BASL’s Trainee Subcommittee members are nearing the end of their tenure and we are seeking expressions of interest from trainees to take over these roles.
The subcommittee was formed to increase regional representation for hepatology interested trainees.
We are still seeking expressions of interest for the following regions:
- Midlands
- Wales
Key roles will be in the promotion of hepatology locally and assistance in delivering BASL Trainee Educational events.
Read more here: Download BASL_Trainee_Subcommittee_Aims_Jan2026.pdf
Application:
The post will be for 2 years and members are invited to submit an expression of interest to judy@basl.org.uk detailing which region you are interested in representing, along with a personal statement containing no more than 300 words, explaining why you want to represent your region and what you can bring to the BASL Trainee Subcommittee.
NB: You must have a training number in Gastroenterology to apply.
In the case of multiple applicants for a region the Secretariat will arrange for an election of the BASL In Training members. Representatives will be elected by simple majority of those members voting. (The personal statement will be shared with the membership if there is a vote and will be used for this purpose only.)
Deadline extended for the above two regions to 23:59 on 24th February 2026.
If you have any specific questions about the subcommittee roles, please do not hesitate to contact the BASL Committee Trainee Representative Dr Wenhao Li @ wenhao.li@qmul.ac.uk or admin@basl.org.uk .
BASL is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of its work. It is actively promoting equal opportunities and access for all our members regardless of their background. We would, therefore, encourage you to consider representing your region on the BASL Trainee Sub-Committee to help to shape the future of BASL and increase our inclusivity/inclusiveness.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Feb
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Organ transplantation saves lives — but it also changes them in profound ways.
We're reaching out on behalf of a dedicated group of patients, carers, clinicians, and psychologists who are advocating for better psychological support for those living with a liver transplant and their families.
Many individuals have shared experiences of anxiety, depression, survivor’s guilt, trauma, and relationship strains during their journey. However, we still lack a complete understanding of these challenges and the emotional support needed.
This survey was initiated by the British Liver Transplant Group (BLTG) and the UK Organ Donation and Transplantation Research Network (UKODTRN) and developed with input from patients, carers, and healthcare professionals, and aims to shed light on the support required for our community.
Please complete the survey honestly: your responses are completely anonymous and will directly inform the development of essential support services.
The results of the survey will be shared through liver-related charities, patient support groups, and on the UK Organ Donation and Transplantation Research Network website.
Take part in the survey > HERE
Survey Deadline: Sunday 22nd February 2026.
This survey should take no longer than 15 minutes to complete.
Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey.
Please consider sharing this link with your liver patient networks to help us reach as many voices as possible. Together, we can make a difference.
Jan
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BASL has agreed with the Baveno Cooperation to support up to five online registrations for the forthcoming Baveno VIII Consensus Workshop. This workshop will set the agenda for the care of patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease. It also provides attendees with the opportunity to learn more about the assessment of liver fibrosis and portal hypertension in addition to the management of patients with advanced chronic liver disease.
BASL will support free online registration for three consultant members and two trainee members.
Applicants will be selected on the basis of experience in the assessment and management of portal hypertension and the impact of attending the meeting on their practice and local services.
Applications will only be accepted on an application form.
Please find the links below to complete and submit an application:
Consultant Application Form
Trainee Application Form
Please apply now - the deadline is 23:59hrs 6th February 2026
Visit the Baveno VIII Consensus Workshop for further information on the event > HERE .
Contact admin@basl.org.uk if you have any questions.
NB: this is only open to BASL members.
