The George Best Appeal for Funds
to Support Research into Liver Disease
The Appeal was set up to raise an initial sum of £500,000 to fund a dedicated laboratory named after George Best, within the Institute of Hepatology, along with associated equipment and consumables, a lead scientist and appropriate technical assistance. An initial three year period of study has been completed and the hope is to establish a longer term programme.
Professor Roger Williams writes:
"Liver damage frequently occurs without the person being aware. In some instances the damage can have developed to the stage of severe liver failure before first illness and presentation of the patient. It is known that the causes of this liver damage relate to a series of events following on toxic injury to the liver cells from alcohol. Various intermediary substances known as cytokines interact and release yet further damaging factors within the liver. This cascade of events can become self-perpetuating, even when exposure to alcohol has ceased. The patient may have stopped drinking yet liver damage can progress, leading to further serious illness and even resulting in death. Although improvement can occur at this stage it is invariably slow. However, recent research into these intermediary substances and consequent cell damage has shown that it is possible to block certain of the key processes involved by specific drugs known as monoclonal antibodies, some of which have been developed for clinical trials in other disorders.
The purpose of the proposed research will be to gain a better understanding of the processes involved in liver damage from alcohol and their influence on the progression of the liver injury and in particular how self-perpetuating processes can be halted once initiated."
