News

This programme is a competitive grants funding stream that supports innovative projects and initiatives, which aim to optimise the benefits of Opt-Out blood borne virus (BBV) testing.  

This year we are inviting applications from healthcare institutions and third sector organisations (not individuals) for innovative initiatives which: 

• Demonstrate the proof of concept/pilot Opt-Out BBV testing in a broader range of healthcare and community settings where high prevalence rates of HIV/HCV/HBV are expected (e.g., primary care, women’s health hubs, psychiatry services, migrant health services, and services targeting underserved populations). 
• Support expansion of the scope of screening and linkage to care project work in Trusts that have already implemented/are in the process of setting up Opt-Out BBV ED testing 
• Emphasise integrated Opt-Out BBV testing and linkage to care, demonstrating engagement and leadership from the front-line service (e.g., GP) with clear pathways for results management and linkage to care. 
• Evaluate innovative approaches to optimising patient pathways and rapid access to care for those newly diagnosed. 
• Enhance patient support programmes and tools, focusing on addressing stigma, community outreach and engagement, disease awareness, and prevention of transmission. 
   
  Priority will be given to projects in areas lacking current evidence base that demonstrate the potential for scaling and sustainability, and that have a clear plan for data collection, monitoring, evaluation and dissemination of project outputs. 

The application window will close on Friday 8th September 2025.

The Gilead UK & Ireland OPTIMISE-BBV Fellowship and Medical Grants Programme has a total funding amount of £200,000 available for successful projects in 2025. 

If you are interested in learning more about the Programme or the application process, or to check if your project is eligible for a grant and apply, please visit the Gilead UK and Ireland website >here. 

The link for open access to the article is through the Frontline Gastroenterology website and can be found > HERE 

(flgastro- 2025-103172)

Each year BASL presents the Dame Sheila Sherlock research prize, one of the highlights of the annual meeting. This prize is awarded annually to recognise the enormous contribution of Dame Sheila Sherlock to the development of Hepatology as a discipline in its own right.

Dame Sheila was involved in the foundation of the British Liver Club in 1961, which subsequently evolved into The British Association for the Study of the Liver (BASL). She was one of our past presidents and the first recipient of the BASL Distinguished Service Award.

Eligibility
In keeping with Dame Sheila’s enthusiasm for fostering young researchers, this eponymous research prize is awarded to young investigators without substantive posts in either medicine, science or allied health roles for their research contributions in the field of hepatology.

The winner will receive free registration to the meeting, an award and a prize of £1,000 and an invite to deliver the prize lecture and present their research at the BASL Annual Meeting (8th-10th October 2025).

To apply, please send one A4 sheet outlining your research and another A4 sheet listing up to 5 related publications.

NB: one person cannot win the Dame Sheila Sherlock Research Prize and Andy Burroughs Young Investigator Award in the same year. Nor can they win a second award with the same body of work as the first.

You must be a BASL member to apply.

Please send submissions to conference@basl.org.uk before the deadline of Tuesday 1st July 2025.

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.

(added 13.5.25 / reposted 26.6.25)

There are a number of opportunities coming up for members to serve across BASL and BLTG committees, so please get involved and help to shape the future of BASL.

BASL COMMITTEE POSTS:

BASL Treasurer - the Treasurer is one of three principal Officers of the Association, is elected by the membership and will serve for a period of up to three years and can be re-elected once.
Please find a role description here:  Download BASL_Treasurer_Role_Description_2025.pdf

NB: President, Secretary and Treasurer post holders must have different Institutional affiliation within the UK.

BASL Services Committee Lead - elected by the membership and will serve for a period of up to three years and can be re-elected once.
Please find a role description here:  Download BASL_Services_Lead_Role_Description_2025.pdf

BVHG Chair - elected by the membership and will serve for a period of up to three years and can be re-elected once.
Please find a role description here:  Download BASLBVHGChair_Role_Description_2025.pdf

Scientist Representative - elected by the membership and will serve for a period of up to three years and can be re-elected once.
Please find a role description here:  Download BASL_Scientist_Representative_Role_Description_2025.pdf

Communications and Website Lead - elected by the membership to serve for a period of up to three years and may be re-elected once.
Please find a role description here: 
Download BASL_Communications_and_Website_Lead_Role_Description_2025.pdf

NB: all of the posts holders above shall be registered with Companies House in the UK as a Director of BASL and registered with the Charities Commission as a Trustee.

OTHER POSTS:

BVHG Secretary - elected by the membership and will serve for a period of up to three years and can be re-elected once. The post holder will support the BVHG Chair, see Chair role description above.

BLTG Transplant Hepatology representative - elected by the membership to serve for a period of 2 and 3 years alternating - this post is for a period of 2 years. The successful applicant will be expected to attend and contribute to 1 face-to-face and 3 web-based BLTG committee meetings each year, and to the work of the committee.

All post holders will take up their roles after the BASL Annual Business Meeting in October 2025.

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 joining the BASL, BLTG or BLNA committees to help to shape the future of BASL and increase our inclusivity/inclusiveness.

NOMINATION PROCESS

Please send your nominations, clearly stating the position that your nomination is for to the BASL Secretariat at judy@basl.org.uk by the deadline of 23:59hrs

Monday 30th June 2025.

Candidates wishing to be considered for nomination must be a member of BASL and will require one BASL member to propose them and a second BASL member to confirm their suitability for the role in writing. (Proposing and seconding of candidates can be done by email.)

A personal statement, containing no more than approx. 300 words, will be requested at the time of nomination from all candidates. Permission will be requested to share the personal statements with the whole BASL membership. (Personal statements are intended for this purpose only.)

If more than 1 candidate is nominated for any of the above Committee posts, the BASL Secretariat will arrange for an election of members. The successful candidate for each post will be elected by a simple majority of those members voting.

Newly elected committee members will be announced at the next Business Meeting of the Association, which will be held during the BASL Annual Meeting in Belfast on Friday 10th October 2025, and join the respective committees thereafter.

If you need any more information, please do not hesitate to contact judy@basl.org.uk 

We look forward to hearing from you.

Please see a new report by the Social Market Foundation (SMF), commissioned by IAS and AFS, exploring how governments could address the retailer windfall profits generated by Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP).

As the AHA continues to make the case for introducing MUP in England, this report responds to one of the most frequent objections: that while MUP raises prices and reduces harm, it also boosts retailer profits – £65m in Scotland, and potentially £600m in England – while reducing Treasury alcohol duty receipts by around £300m.

The report considers various options to address this and concludes that the best solution is introducing a Minimum Unit Tax (MUT) alongside MUP – this would introduce a new tax floor on alcohol, similar to the existing minimum excise tax on cigarettes.

Institute of Alcohol Studies
Alcohol Focus Scotland