Good morning, and welcome to the 2019 postgraduate course of the American Association for Studies of Liver Disease. I'm Jorge Bezeja from Cincinnati Children's Hospital and President-Elect of the association. With precision hepatology in clinical course, in clinical practice, we had a goal to review evidence-based benefit, risks, and strategies of precision care, or the customization of diagnosis and plan to individual patients. We also wanted to analyze the value of biomarkers, invasive tests, and digital tools to improve clinical practice. Today, knowledge base, aided with clinical signs and symptoms knowledge, is the foundation of the practice. We also use blood chemistry and cell count, radiological tests, and the direct analysis of tissues in histological analysis. However, there is an increasing numbers of new tests and new tools in clinical practice. These are made possible by, at least in part, the genomic revolution as shown here in the 2001 initial publication of the human gene sequence, followed by technological evolution. We now have possible the sequencing of the entire genome in a much faster and cheaper basis. We now are able to understand better the structure and function of the genes. Now, in the post-genomic era, they represent advances that are remarkable. And today, we can synthesize unique proteins, quantify various proteins in one single assay, develop antibodies to identify markers of cancers or markers of inflammation, quantify cell numbers in the tissues. We can actually provide gene expression profile that gives insight into the survival over time, as well as treatment response. One can also identify the entire microbiome composition in the gut and the other tissues. Combining these advances with computer analytics, advances in radiological tests and fiber optics, the choices are many. So today, we pause our busy lives to discuss how these advances may impact clinical practice. How does it all fit? What is ready for prime time use? What needs further investigation? Before starting the course, I will present the association in recognizing the creativity and hard work of the course directors, Dr. Andrew Kiveny from the Mayo Clinic and Dr. Rebecca Wells from the University of Pennsylvania. I also want to give a special thank to the Education Committee of the SLD, led by Dr. Grace Su and the members of the committee, as you can read. The SLD staff that worked hard to prepare this course, especially Jessica Jessop, Denise Seas, Janelle Klett, Stephanie Grimsby. And a special thank to the course faculty. So I invite the moderators to come and start the course. Thank you.

American Association for Studies of Liver Disease

precision hepatology

clinical practice

biomarkers

genomic sequencing