On September 19-20, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Conference Center in Coralville, internationally renowned health care professionals gathered for Metabolic Health in Motion: A Global Insight to Metabolic Associated Liver Disease, an academic conference dedicated to reviewing current Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) research and treatment. Hosted by some of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology’s leading internists, the two-day gathering consisted of informative lectures, engaging case study discussions, and opportunities for knowledge and skill-sharing between experts of the field.

Attendants gathered for breakfast and were given a chance to register for the “Run for Your Liver, Run for Your Life” 5K race that followed the conference. On Friday, the opening address was given by Marta Tejedor Bravo, MBBS, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor of Internal Medicine-Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and recipient of the Major Projects Award by the University of Iowa’s International Program. This award, funded by the Stanley-UI Foundation Support Organization, supported the creation and execution of the MASLD conference.

“We chose Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) as the focus of our conference due to its growing incidence. It is a significant health problem worldwide and in Iowa in particular,” Tejedor said. “This disease is part of a constellation of metabolic abnormalities, affecting different organs and systems, hence our title Metabolic Health in Motion. We wanted to stress the importance of multidisciplinary care and build relationships across different levels of care, to establish a working framework with the patient in its center. To that effect, we had an audience comprised of primary care providers, GI specialists, hepatologists and pharmacists from different countries. Likewise, our speakers represented a variety of specialties and countries.”

These speakers hope to help shed new light on the state of MASLD and other metabolic disorders within the scientific and medical communities. On Saturday, presentations began with a welcome address by Antonio Sanchez, MD, another host of the event. Eight presenters spoke throughout the second day, bringing together research and raising awareness about a variety of topics surrounding metabolic disorders.

In his talk, “Pharmacotherapy of Obesity: An Update,” Marcelo Correria, MD, MSc, PhD, discussed the links between conditions like obesity, Metabolic-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH), liver fibrosis, and more. Correria outlined the benefits and limitations of weight management medications such as semaglutides, as well as their potential wider application.

Next, Kymberly D. Watt, MD, presented “MASH Therapeutic Landscape: Current Options and Opportunities for Future Combination Trials.” Watt emphasized the importance of continued study of these drugs and explored opportunities for future combination trials to find the best treatment outcomes for patients.

The presentation following was a joint effort by Wing Kin Syn, MD, PhD, and & F. Gerald Wade, MD, with their talk, “The Power of Teamwork: Building and Sustaining a Multidisciplinary MASLD Clinic.” The duo broached topics such as the challenges and benefits of multidisciplinary clinics, common care teams built for treatment of complex conditions, and fee-for-service versus value-based care.

Then, Nazia Selzner, MD, PhD, shared “Decompensated MASH cirrhotic patient: special considerations and contraindications to transplant,” which explored the risk assessment and evaluation that precedes liver transplant. Selzner also explained considerations for MASH patients specifically – with obesity, renal disfunction, cardiovascular disease, hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC), and metabolic syndrome being just a few.

In a pertinent succession, the next speaker was Marina Berenguer, MD, PhD, who presented “Management of MASLD After Liver Transplantation.” Berenguer conveyed the increased incidence of post-transplant metabolic risk factors over time, and stressed the importance of screening and immediate intervention in post-transplant cancers and related conditions.

The group broke for lunch and a group photo, then continued with Stuart McCluskey, HBSc, PhD, MD, FRCPC, and his presentation, “Anesthetic Challenges Associated with Liver Transplant in MASH Patients.” McCluskey spoke about the implications of extended intubation in liver transplant patients and the physiological basis of risk assessments for early extubation.

Following with a surgical perspective of the same case, Marcus Selzner, MD, presented “Surgical Challenges Associated with Liver Transplant in MASH Patients,” which delved into the acceptance or rejection of steatotic liver grafts, protective strategies such as the possibility of de-fatting organs, and other emerging methods for safe and rapid surgery, such as ischemia-free transplantation with continuous perfusion.

Finally, Mohamad Mokadem, MD, gave his talk, “Surgical and Endoscopic Treatment Options in Patients with Obesity and MASLD.” Mokadem shared insight into common types of bariatric surgery and their respective efficiencies, including recent forays into endo-bariatric therapies. He compared therapeutic outcomes among patients with MALSD based on intervention and examined their effect on the brain and other metabolic organs as a whole.

The Metabolic Health in Motion conference concluded Saturday with a case study discussion presented by Tomohiro Tanaka, MD, MPH, and Yasameen Muzahim, MD. Vendor exhibits were available for the attendees to visit throughout.

On Sunday, the “Run for Your Liver, Run for Your Life” 5K race took place at Centennial Park in North Liberty. Many of the MASLD conference attendees participated, raising money and awareness for the Vanguard Research Grant of the International Liver Transplant Society (ILTS), “empowering young physician-scientists to lead innovative research in liver transplantation.”

Tejedor was among the runners, and reflected, “This has been a truly unique experience that has brought knowledge to our community to improve patient care. We are together in this, for our patients.”

Thank you to everyone who was a part of this year’s inaugural Metabolic Health in Motion conference!