Celebrating 60 years of liver excellence

19 June 2026

More than 200 clinicians, scientists, supporters and international guests gathered in London last week to celebrate two major milestones in the history of liver medicine: sixty years since Professor Roger Williams established one of the UK's first dedicated liver units at King's College Hospital, and ten years since the opening of the Roger Williams Institute of Liver Studies.

Together, the anniversaries provided an opportunity not just to reflect on Prof Williams' remarkable legacy, but to look ahead at the science that could define the next era of liver research.

A field transformed

When Roger Williams founded the Liver Unit at King's in 1966, liver medicine was still in its formative years.

Over the following decades, King’s would become one of the world's leading centres for liver care and research, helping pioneer advances in transplantation, intensive care, hepatology and liver surgery that have helped patients across the UK and around the world.

Many of the clinicians and researchers who helped shape that story returned to King's for the celebration. Across two days of conference sessions at the Fetal Medicine Research Institute, they heard from speakers about discoveries that have changed clinical practice over the past six decades, and the opportunities that lie ahead in areas including regenerative medicine, oncology, transplantation and microbiome science.

60 years of history in one room

The celebrations continued on Thursday evening with a special anniversary dinner at Dulwich Picture Gallery, bringing together the wider circle of people who've shaped our story over the past 60 years, including philanthropic supporters and members of the Williams family.

There was a genuine sense of warmth throughout the evening. Former colleagues reunited, old friendships were renewed, and memories of Roger were shared across the room. For many guests, it was a chance to reflect not only on how far liver medicine has come, but on the people, partnerships and shared sense of purpose that made that progress possible.

The evening served as a reminder that while scientific breakthroughs change lives, they are ultimately made possible by communities of people who share the same determination to improve care for people living with liver disease.

Looking to the next 60 years

While much of the event focused on how far the field has come, the strongest message was about its future.

Liver disease remains one of the biggest health challenges of our time. Yet many of the scientific advances discussed during the conference would have seemed unimaginable only a decade or two ago.

Researchers are now exploring ways to harness the liver's remarkable ability to regenerate, train the immune system to fight liver cancer, restore donor organs previously considered unsuitable for transplantation, and understand the hidden influence of the microbiome on human health.

At the heart of many of these efforts is the Roger Williams Institute of Liver Studies, where scientists, clinicians and translational researchers work side-by-side through a unique partnership between King's College London, King's College Hospital and the Foundation for Liver Research.

As Professor Philip Newsome, Director of the Roger Williams Institute of Liver Studies, put it: “Liver disease is one of the biggest health challenges of our time. Meeting that challenge requires scientists and clinicians working together more closely than ever before – that is exactly what the partnership between King’s College London, King’s College Hospital and the Foundation for Liver Research is built to achieve.”

Clive Kay, Chief Executive of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We have made great strides since the Institute of Liver Studies was founded in 1966. King’s continues to be a pioneer in liver research and care, advancing treatment options, diagnosing liver disease earlier, and helping people to live longer, healthier lives through transplantation.

“These milestones are the result of a partnership with King’s College London and the Roger Williams Institute of Liver Studies, a partnership which has and continues to grow in ambition and impact. There is much more that we will achieve together over the next 60 years.”

Roger Williams laid the foundations for modern liver medicine. Together, we now have the opportunity to shape what comes next.

Click here to browse our photo gallery and relive some of the highlights from the celebrations

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