Addressing Liver Health Disparities: Dr. Felice Cinque’s Advocacy and Research

Featuring our CASL LGBT+ trainee representative exciting work!

I’m Dr Felice Cinque, a clinician-scientist specialised in internal medicine and currently pursuing a PhD in Clinical Research at the University of Milan. After completing a research fellowship in 2023 at McGill University in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, my work has focused on chronic liver diseases, particularly metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in vulnerable populations—including people living with HIV. I am also deeply committed to patient-centred care and to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in hepatology. As an advocate for LGBTQIA+ representation in medicine and research, I strive to ensure that liver health initiatives address the specific needs of minoritised communities.

In collaboration with CASL and the AASLD LGBTQ+ Task Force led by Dr Howard Lee, we are conducting a scoping review on chronic liver diseases in gender-diverse and sexual minority populations. LGBTQIA+ individuals are disproportionately affected by unique and intersecting risk factors for liver disease, including higher rates of viral hepatitis, hormone- and substance-related hepatotoxicity, and an increased burden of metabolic disorders driven by social and structural inequities. Yet, despite these heightened risks, the epidemiology, clinical needs, and access to liver care for these populations remain poorly characterised and frequently neglected in research and clinical guidelines.

This scoping review will serve as the foundation for a forthcoming CASL position paper on Chronic Liver Diseases in Gender-Diverse and Sexual Minority Populations. Its objective is not only to synthesise existing evidence but also to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and promote inclusive research, clinical practice, and policy development. Ultimately, we aim to advance liver health equity for minoritised populations and ensure that gender-diverse and sexual minority individuals are fully recognised and addressed within hepatology care.