Special Interest Groups - CASL - Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver

Special Interest Groups Policy and Benefits

CASL is committed to supporting the hepatology community in advancing research and networks to further knowledge and treatment options for liver disease.

In this spirit, we provide official endorsement of Special Interest Groups (SIGs), to promote collaboration of scientists and health care professionals from a range of disciplines who share common specialized interests in the field of hepatology.

Our current Special Interest Groups include:

Canadian HBV Network

Who we are

The Canadian HBV Network is a collaborative organization of healthcare professionals and researchers from across Canada with an interest in advancing excellence in Hepatitis B patient care, research and education. The Network consists of medical professionals and researchers from 22 academic and community care clinics across eight Canadian provinces, provincial laboratories and the National Microbiology Laboratory / Public Health Agency of Canada. The Canadian HBV Network is supported by multidisciplinary researchers in basic / biomedical science, clinician scientists, medical microbiologists, clinical virology, population health, epidemiologists, biostatisticians and health economists.

Mission

To improve treatment and control of hepatitis B in Canada
To promote collaboration on national HBV studies and databases
To enhance the understanding of hepatitis B disease processes and natural history

Point Persons, Institutions, and Contacts

The 2024-2027 Steering Committee Members are:

Dr. Edward Tam – Pacific Gastroenterology Associates
Dr. Emma Lee – National Microbiology Laboratory / Public Health Agency of Canada
Dr. Angela Crawley – Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Dr. Adam Gehring – University of Toronto
Dr. Tianyan Chen – McGill University
Dr. Carla Coffin – University of Calgary A list of all Network members can be found at https://canadianhbvnetwork.ca/members

Canadian Pediatric Hepatology Research Group

Subject Area/Interest: Pediatric Hepatology

The CPHRG is a network of Pediatric Hepatologists across Canada with a mission to collaborate in pediatric liver diseases research and advocate for optimization of clinical care of children and youth with liver disease.

CPHRG meetings are held once a year during the CASL annual meeting to discuss ongoing and future research projects.

Ongoing Projects:

Genetic Intrahepatic Cholestasis: Pediatric disorders leading to bile canalicular dysfunction in Canada
The burden of chronic hepatitis C infection among children in Canada and the “real world” paediatric effectiveness of new therapies

Past Projects:

A national retrospective study of paediatric end-stage liver disease as a predictor of change to second-line therapy in children with autoimmune hepatitis. Zizzo AN, Jimenez-Rivera C, Kim J, Schreiber RA, Ling SC, Yap J8, Critch J, Ahmed N, Alvarez F, Kamath BM; Canadian Paediatric
Hepatology Research Group (CPHRG). Liver Int. 2017 Oct;37(10):1562-1570.doi: 10.1111/liv.13387.Epub 2017 Mar 15.
Incidence and Characteristics of Autoimmune Hepatitis. Jimenez-Rivera C, Ling SC, Ahmed N, Yap J, Aglipay M, Barrowman N, Graitson S, Critch J, Rashid M, Ng VL, Roberts EA, Brill H, Dowhaniuk JK, Bruce G, Bax K, Deneau M, Guttman OR, Schreiber RA, Martin S, Alvarez F. Pediatrics. 2015 Nov;136(5):e1237-48.doi:10.1542/peds.2015-0578. Epub 2015 Oct 19.
Biliary atresia with associated structural malformations in Canadian infants. Guttman OR1, Roberts EA, Schreiber RA, Barker CC, Ng VL;
Canadian Pediatric hepatology Research Group. Liver Int. 2011 Nov;31(10):1485-93. doi:10.1111/j.1478-3231.2011.02578.s. Epub 2011 Aug 8
Biliary atresia in Canada: the effect of centre caseload experience on outcome. Schreiber RA1, Barker CC, Roberts EA, Martin SR; Canadian
Pediatric Hepatology Research Group. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2010 Jul;51(1):61-5. doi: 10.1097/MPG.0b013e3181d67e5e.
Biliary atresia: the Canadian experience.Schreiber RA, Barker CC, Roberts EA, Martin SR, Alvarez F, Smith L, Butzner JD, Wrobel I, Mack D, Moroz S, Rashid M, Persad R, Levesque D, Brill H, Bruce G, Critch J; Canadian
Pediatric Hepatology Research Group. J Pediatr. 2007 Dec;151(6):659-65, 665.e1. Epub 2007 Oct 22.

Contact Information for Leads, and Members of the Group

Carolina Jimenez cajimenez@cheo.on.ca (Chair)
Andreanne Zizzo andreanne.zizzo@lhsc.on.ca
Anna Wieckowska anna.wieckowska@mail.chudequebec.ca
Ashok Dandhapani dhandapani.ashok@lhsc.on.ca
Binita Kamath binita.kamath@sickkids.ca
Decker Butzner butzner@ucalgary.ca
Eve Roberts eve.roberts@sickkids.ca
Fernando Alvarez fernando.alvarez@umontreal.ca
Guttman, Orlee oguttman@cw.bc.ca
Herbert Brill brillh@mcmaster.ca
Jeff Critch habs19@nf.sympatico.ca
Massimiliano Paganelli m.paganelli@umontreal.ca
Mohit Kehar mohit.kehar@kingstonhsc.ca
Mohsin Rashid mohsin.rashid@iwk.nshealth.ca
Najma Ahmed najma.ahmed@mcgill.ca
Patricia Kawada patricia.kawada@albertahealthservices.ca
Pushpa Sathya pushpa.sathya5@gmail.com
Rick Schreiber, rschreiber@cw.bc.ca
Simon Ling simon.ling@sickkids.ca
Steve Martin stevenR.martin@albertahealthservices.ca
Susan Gilmour susan.gilmour@albertahealthservices.ca
Vicky Ng vicky.ng@sickkids.ca
Quais Mujawar qmujawar@exchange.hsc.mb.ca

Canadian MASLD Network (CanMASLD)

Who we are

The Canadian MASLD Network is a collaborative organization of health care professionals from across Canada with a primary interest in enhancing understanding, care of, education, and research in persons with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) (formerly NAFLD) by focusing on epidemiology, diagnostics, therapy and prevention. Please visit https://canmasld.org/ for more information.

Mission

Increase research capacity and address clinically relevant research questions through shared data and resources.
Advocate for patient groups through community advisory boards, policy meetings with government bodies and calls to action from multi-stakeholder groups.
Education through community events and partnerships with primary care physicians that increase understanding of prevention and care options.

Point Persons, institutions and contacts

The CanMASLD Steering Committee Members are:

Dr. Mark Swain – University of Calgary
Dr. Giada Sebastiani – McGill University
Dr. Alnoor Ramji – University of British Columbia
Dr. Keyur Patel – University of Toronto

Autoimmune Liver Diseases / CaNaL Registry

About CaNAL

The Canadian Network for Autoimmune Liver disease (CaNAL) is a longitudinal observational cohort study of patients diagnosed with Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC), Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH), or overlap syndrome. This nationwide registry focuses on high quality long-term follow-up of individual patients from major Canadian centres including The Toronto Centre for Liver Disease (TCLD). The primary goal of CaNAL is to build a Canadian registry of patients with PBC, AIH, and overlap syndrome in order to allow new insights into autoimmune liver diseases. As these illnesses are rare and slow progressing, this type of large-scale approach will help enhance our understanding by providing information about disease development, and identifying risk factors associated with important outcomes. Variables such as patient demographics, quality of life, and patient outcomes are collected to allow for the identification of biomarkers. This can help predict disease progression or non-response to therapy, as well as aid in the earlier diagnosis of autoimmune liver disease to ensure timely treatment and prevent disease progression.

Steering Committee

Gideon Hirschfield
Bettina Hansen
Aliya Gulahusein
Julian Hercun
Andrew Mason
Aldo Montano-Loza
Mark Swain
Hin Hin Ko

Recent Publications

Loss of biochemical response at any time worsens outcomes in UDCA-treated patients with primary biliary cholangitis Roberts SB, Choi WJ, Worobetz L, Vincent C, Flemming JA, Cheung A, Qumosani K, Swain M, Grbic D, Ko HH, Peltekian KM, Abrahamyan L, Saini M, Tirona K, Aziz B, Lytvyak E, Invernizzi P, Ponsioen CY, Bruns T, Cazzagon N, Lindor K, Dalekos GN, Gatselis NK, Verhelst X, Floreani A, Corpechot C, Mayo MJ, Levy C, Londoño MC, Battezzati PM, Pares A, Nevens F, van der Meer A, Kowdley KV, Trivedi PJ, Lleo A, Thorburn D, Carbone M, Selzner N, Gulamhusein AF, Janssen H, Montano-Loza AJ, Mason AL, Hirschfield GM, Hansen BE; Canadian Network for Autoimmune Liver disease (CaNAL). JHEP Rep. 2024 Jul 8;6(10):101168. Link: https://www.jhep-reports.eu/article/S2589-5559(24)00172-1/fulltext

Treatment response and clinical event-free survival in autoimmune hepatitis: A Canadian multicentre cohort study Plagiannakos CG, Hirschfield GM, Lytvyak E, Roberts SB, Ismail M, Gulamhusein AF, Selzner N, Qumosani KM, Worobetz L, Hercun J, Vincent C, Flemming JA, Swain MG, Cheung A, Chen T, Grbic D, Peltekain K, Mason AL, Montano-Loza AJ, Hansen BE; Canadian Network for Autoimmune Liver Disease (CaNAL). J Hepatol. 2024 Aug;81(2):227-237. Link: https://www.journal-of-hepatology.eu/article/S0168-8278(24)00205-8/fulltext

Ethnicity, disease severity, and survival in Canadian patients with primary biliary cholangitis Roberts SB, Hirschfield GM, Worobetz LJ, Vincent C, Flemming JA, Cheung A, Qumosani K, Swain M, Grbic D, Ko HH, Peltekian K, Selzner N, Abrahamyan L, Aziz B, Lytvyak E, Tirona K, Gulamhusein AF, Janssen HLA, Montano-Loza AJ, Mason AL, Hansen BE; Canadian Network for Autoimmune Liver Disease (CaNAL). Hepatology. 2022 Aug;76(2):303-316. Link: https://journals.lww.com/hep/abstract/2022/08000/ethnicity,_disease_severity,_and_survival_in.7.aspx

Real-World Effectiveness of Obeticholic Acid in Patients with Primary Biliary Cholangitis. Roberts SB, Ismail M, Kanagalingam G, Mason AL, Swain MG, Vincent C, Yoshida EM, Tsien C, Flemming JA, Janssen HLA, Hirschfield GM, Hansen BE, Gulamhusein AF; Canadian Network for Autoimmune Liver Disease. Hepatol Commun. 2020 Jul 6;4(9):1332-1345. Link: https://journals.lww.com/hepcomm/fulltext/2020/09000/real_world_effectiveness_of_obeticholic_acid_in.10.aspx

Complications of Cirrhosis Group

Transplant Group

Vision

To be the group for collaborative liver transplant research in Canada

Mission

To foster and conduct collaborative research in liver transplantation across Canada

Who we are

The CASL Liver Transplant Interest Group is open to all CASL clinicians and investigators interested in liver transplantation. Interested CASL members should contact the point person at their institution (see below) for further information.

What we do

The CASL Liver Transplant Interest Group meets at least twice a year, typically at CDDW and at AASLD. These meetings serve to

Review progress/results of ongoing collaborative research projects
Propose/present new research projects
Discuss other transplant related issues of common interest

Ongoing Projects

Efficacy of Sofosbuvir-based antiviral therapy in recurrent hepatitis C after liver transplantation – a pan-Canadian observational study
Body mass index and outcomes of liver transplantation – a retrospective pan-Canadian analysis

Past Pan-Canadian Projects (examples)

Early steroid withdrawal after liver transplantation: the Canadian tacrolimus versus microemulsion cyclosporin A trial: 1-year follow-up. Greig P, Lilly L, Scudamore C, Erb S, Yoshida E, Kneteman N, Bain V, Ghent C, Marotta P, Grant D, Wall W, Tchervenkov J, Barkun J, Roy A, Marleau D, McAlister V, Peltekian K. Liver Transpl. 2003;9:587-95.
Evaluation of renal function in liver transplant recipients receiving daclizumab (Zenapax), mycophenolate mofetil, and a delayed, low-dose tacrolimus regimen vs. a standard-dose tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil regimen: a multicenter randomized clinical trial. Yoshida EM, Marotta PJ, Greig PD, Kneteman NM, Marleau D, Cantarovich M, Peltekian KM, Lilly LB, Scudamore CH, Bain VG, Wall WJ, Roy A, Balshaw RF, Barkun JS. Liver Transpl. 2005;11:1064-72.
Recurrent hepatitis C post-transplantation: where are we now and where do we go from here? A report from the Canadian transplant hepatology workshop. Watt KD, Burak K, Deschênes M, Lilly L, Marleau D, Marotta P, Mason A, Peltekian KM, Renner EL, Yoshida EM; Canadian Transplant Hepatology Outcomes Research Network. Can J Gastroenterol. 2006;20:725-34.
Survival after liver transplantation for hepatitis C is unchanged over two decades in Canada. Watt KD, Burak KW, Deschênes M, Lilly L, Marleau D, Marotta P, Mason A, Peltekian KM, Renner E, Yoshida EM; Canadian Transplant Hepatology Outcomes Research Network. Can J Gastroenterol. 2008;22:153-4.
Liver transplantation for hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma: the Canadian multicentre experience. Nudo CG, Yoshida EM, Bain VG, Marleau D, Wong P, Marotta PJ, Renner E, Watt KD, Deschênes M. Can J Gastroenterol. 2008;22:821-4.
Canadian national retrospective chart review comparing the long term effect of cyclosporine vs. tacrolimus on clinical outcomes in patients with post-liver transplantation hepatitis C virus infection. Yoshida EM, Lilly LB, Marotta PJ, Mason AL, Bilodeau M, Vaillancourt M. Ann Hepatol. 2013;12:282-93.
Protease inhibitor-based triple therapy is highly effective for hepatitis C recurrence after liver transplant: a multicenter experience. Faisal N, Yoshida EM, Bilodeau M, Wong P, Ma M, Burak KW, Al-Judaibi B, Renner EL, Lilly Ann Hepatol. 2014;13:525-32.

Point Persons, Institutions, and Contacts

Adult Programs

Nazia Selzner (Toronto)
Kevork Peltekian (Dalhousie)
Marc Bilodeau, (Montreal)
Philip Wong, (McGill)
Paul Marotta (Western)
David Peretz (Manitoba)
Aldo Montano-Loza (Alberta)
Stephen Congly (Calgary)
Eric Yoshida (UBC)

Pediatric Programs

Fernando Alvarez (Montreal)
Vicki Ng (SickKids)
Jason Yap (Alberta)
Steve Martin (Calgary)

For further information contact the acting secretary of the CASL Transplant Interest group.

Special interest groups wishing to be endorsed by CASL should provide an outline of the following to this email.:

1. Subject Area/Interest
2. Short Description
3. Number of meetings per year and purpose of meeting.
4. Any projects, either in progress, past, or proposed
5. Contact information for leads, and members of the group

In order to be endorsed, the chair of the special interest group must be a member of CASL.

As an endorsed Special Interest Group, CASL will provide the following:

1. Access to meeting space at the Canadian Liver Meeting each year, or if applicable, at single topic conferences.
2. A listing and description on the CASL website
3. Facilitate SIG communication among its membership.