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health professionals & researchers / Investments & Impact

Investments
& Impact

Through research, we can improve prevention, screening, diagnoses, and treatments of liver disease, reducing its incidence and impact.

Liver disease researcher looking into microscope

Research is critically important in the fight against liver disease.

More research leads to more medical breakthroughs, better treatments with fewer side effects, and more cures.

Liver Canada is proud to support the work of Canadian researchers. We collaborate with leading institutions and researchers to drive impactful studies and fund innovative studies and clinical trials spanning all 100+ forms of liver disease.

To date, Liver Canada has funded over $38 million in liver research. We’ve played a vital role in some of Canada’s most noteworthy liver-related scientific breakthroughs, including the discovery of the genes responsible for Wilson’s disease and hemochromatosis, and new treatments for hepatitis C.

current research initiatives

Liver Cancer Research Grants in Partnership with Canadian Research Society

In 2024, we committed to investing $500,000 in four liver cancer research projects. This research is focused on preventing the spread of cancer to the liver and addresses critical gaps in current treatment options.

RESEARCH PROJECT

Nerves and Liver Cancer Growth

  • Researcher: Dr. Paul Kubes, The University of Calgary
  • Impact: Dr. Kubes’ innovative research explores how liver tumors manipulate nerve growth to enhance their own growth and survival.

RESEARCH PROJECT

Understanding Liver Cancer at the Molecular Level

  • Researcher: Dr. Pamela Hoodless, BC Cancer
  • Impact: Dr. Hoodless’ cutting-edge research delves into the molecular changes that transform chronic liver disease into liver cancer.

RESEARCH PROJECT

New Treatments for Liver Metastasis from Eye Cancer

  • Researcher: Dr. Sonia del Rincon, Lady Davis Institute at the Jewish General Hospital
  • Impact: Dr. del Rincon’s research targets a protein responsible for the spread of eye cancer to the liver, a condition currently lacking effective treatments.

RESEARCH PROJECT

Targeting Key Proteins in Liver Cancer

  • Researcher: Dr. Sylvain Meloche, University of Montreal
  • Impact: Dr. Meloche’s research focuses on crucial proteins that drive liver tumor growth.

Liver Beware FibroScan Screening Program 

In April 2022, we piloted the Liver Beware Project with Dr. Peter Kwan and his research team in British Columbia, offering community FibroScan screening for early detection of fatty liver disease.

  • During the pilot, results showed that approximately two-thirds of individuals screened had excess fat in their liver by scientific criteria, and one-third had significant levels of fatty deposits.
  • Since 2022, we’ve screened over 5,400 individuals and identified more than 200 cases of early cirrhosis in this annual program.
Liver disease researcher

are you a Canadian researcher?

Go to funding opportunities to find a list of open grant competitions.

Funding Opportunities