Forum Pushes Non-Invasive Liver Testing Roadmap

Global Liver Institute convened patients, experts and industry in Denver to set priorities for earlier liver disease screening.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Healthcare

Isometric editorial illustration of a glass laboratory vial and a steel ultrasound-style probe on a bench beside a window with high-plains sky. — Global Liver Institute convened patients, experts and industry in Denver on November 4 to set priorities for earlier liver disease screening. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Global Liver Institute convened the Beyond the Biopsy National Implementation Forum in Denver, Colorado, on November 4. Participants examined gaps in patient identification, diagnostic assessment, referral pathways, access, reimbursement and ongoing care for liver disease.

Why it matters

An estimated 1 in 4 adults worldwide lives with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, which can progress to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. Many at-risk individuals are not screened, so opportunities for earlier assessment and follow-up continue to be missed.

An estimated 1 in 4 adults worldwide lives with MASLD, a figure drawn from the global adult population. The extraction does not specify how many at-risk individuals are currently screened, leaving the screening gap unquantified.

The players

Global Liver Institute

A nonprofit organization focused on advancing liver disease research, education and patient care through collaborative initiatives.

Brent A. Tetri, MD

A physician who moderated the Forum, guiding discussion among patients, clinicians and industry stakeholders on liver disease assessment.

Pascal Prigent

Chief Executive Officer of GENFIT, a biopharmaceutical company active in liver disease research and therapy development.

The details

The Forum was held November 4 ahead of The Liver Meeting and brought together patients, clinical experts, researchers, diagnostic companies, pharmaceutical companies and other stakeholders. Moderated by Brent A. Tetri, MD, it built on Global Liver Institute's 2025 Non-Invasive Testing Summit and focused on clinical workflows and responsibilities for interpreting test results and follow-up.

November 4, 2026: Beyond the Biopsy National Implementation Forum held in Denver.
2025: Global Liver Institute's Non-Invasive Testing Summit, which the Forum built upon.

Healthcare Trajectory

The Forum extends Global Liver Institute's 2025 Non-Invasive Testing Summit by shifting from identifying alternatives to invasive biopsy toward planning how those tests are implemented in clinical practice. The move reflects a broader push to address the screening and follow-up gaps that the Summit's successors are now trying to close.

Patients at risk for liver disease may gain earlier, less invasive options for assessment if the proposed roadmap is adopted. The forum's focus on referral pathways and reimbursement signals that access to follow-up care could improve.

The takeaway

Anyone at risk for liver disease should ask their clinician about screening, since many at-risk individuals currently go unscreened. Earlier assessment and clear follow-up can help catch progression before it advances.

What happens next

Global Liver Institute will develop a draft National Implementation Roadmap outlining key implementation barriers and proposed actions for non-invasive liver assessment.