FLF and SAIL are stepping up to NASH by developing a risk stratification tool with a 77% detection rate for NAFLD.
CAMBRIDGE, MA & BOISE, ID / ACCESSWIRE / JUNE, 8, 2023 - The Fatty Liver Foundation (FLF), a leading patient advocacy organization, today announced the development of its AI Fatty Liver Risk Stratification Tool, in conjunction with a collaborative health data research software provider Secure AI Labs (SAIL).
This first-of-its-kind tool will use machine-learning technology to help patients assess their risk for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its more advanced form, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) — conditions that affect more than 1.66 billion people around the world.
The AI Fatty Liver Risk Stratification Tool will help educate patients on the lifestyle changes needed to halt or minimize disease progression and accelerate FLF’s mission to identify asymptomatic, undiagnosed patients with liver fibrosis or early cirrhosis caused by fatty liver disease. Pharmaceutical and research organizations will also be able to use the tool to better identify patients for clinical trials.
FLF and SAIL anticipate that the risk stratification tool will be available for public use by early 2024.
The organizations announced the development of the tool in conjunction with International NASH Day, a public education campaign to raise visibility and urgency around fatty liver disease and NASH led by Global Liver Institute (GLI), in partnership with patient advocacy and non-profit organizations around the world. The theme for 2023 was #StepUpforNASH, which encourages the medical community to step up for patients, early disease detection and advocacy.
“As someone diagnosed with cirrhotic NASH, I understand the dangers of fatty liver disease — and the steps needed to keep this condition from progressing, ” said Wayne Eskeridge, Co-Founder and CEO, Fatty Liver Foundation. “NAFLD is largely asymptomatic until it progresses to its later stages, when it becomes a potentially life-threatening condition. The risk stratification tool we are developing with SAIL can help patients identify their risk and more quickly seek lifestyle changes and treatments, if needed.”
While other risk stratification tools exist, none of the current options are easily accessible for patients and their primary care physicians (PCPs). The AI Fatty Liver Risk Stratification Tool will be publicly available to help promote the early identification of fatty liver risk — and expand the pool of patients available for potentially life-saving clinical research.
The tool utilizes a machine learning model that SAIL trained using data from FLF’s Screening for Undiagnosed NAFLD NASH (SUNN-1) study. SAIL uses a pioneering form of patient-centric AI technology — machine learning and analytics on federated data — to ensure that patient data stays contained, and all data uses are loggable and auditable. Patient data cannot be copied and pasted, emailed, forwarded, downloaded or end up on unauthorized servers
In early testing, the tool registered a 77% detection rate for NAFLD. FLF and SAIL plan to train the tool’s machine-learning model with additional patient data before making it available to the public.
“As we’ve worked with the Fatty Liver Foundation over the past year, I’ve become aware of just how often NASH and NAFLD go undiagnosed,” said Anne Kim, Co-Founder and CEO, SAIL. “Our team felt motivated to step up for NASH. Using machine learning to develop our stratification tool is a great example of how we can accelerate the research goals of patient advocacy organizations with technology that puts patient privacy first.”
Fatty liver conditions are a major concern for many Americans. NAFLD, the most common chronic liver disease in Western countries, is closely tied to certain metabolic conditions and lifestyle factors. Particularly at risk are those with type 2 diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome, which includes conditions like high blood pressure, elevated fasting blood sugar levels, excess body fat around the waist, high triglyceride levels and low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Notably, NAFLD commonly affects individuals who consume little to no alcohol. NASH is also considered to be a primary driver of liver cancer and is the leading cause of liver cancer in liver transplant candidates in the United States.
FLF reports that nearly one in three Americans have a fatty liver, and most are unaware because it is often asymptomatic until its later stages. Additionally, FLF has found that:
- An estimated 16.8 million Americans are living with NASH.
- About 5.7 million are expected to have NASH with Stage 2 or 3 fibrosis, aka an excessive amount of scar tissue present in the liver.
- A liver transplant is the last resort for late-stage liver disease. Due to organ scarcity, many do not make the transplant list, and tragically, around 30% die while waiting.
Patients who think they might be at risk for a fatty liver condition are encouraged to learn more at www.fattyliverfoundation.org. Pharmaceutical and research organizations seeking to learn more about FLF’s AI Fatty Liver Risk Stratification Tool for clinical trials should email [email protected].
ABOUT SECURE AI LABS
Secure AI Labs (SAIL) helps patient advocacy organizations gather, manage and analyze siloed health data for more representative, secure and collaborative patient-centric research. As an agnostic software and service provider, SAIL offers a next-generation data federation platform that ensures patient data won’t end up on unauthorized servers or fall into the hands of third parties. With a pioneering form of patient-centric AI technology — machine learning and analytics on federated data — patient data never moves, and all data uses are logged and auditable. Next-generation patient advocacy organizations, such as the Fatty Liver Foundation (FLF), Kidney Cancer Association (KCA) and Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) trust SAIL to accelerate their research goals with technology that puts patient privacy first. Enable patient-benefitting insights without compromise at secureailabs.com.
ABOUT THE FATTY LIVER FOUNDATION
The Fatty Liver Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the identification, diagnosis, treatment and support of people living with fatty liver, NAFLD or NASH through awareness, screening, education, and patient outreach. FLF’s goal is to improve the lives of both asymptomatic and diagnosed patients by raising awareness, advancing wellness screening, educating patients, and championing the development of responsive health systems for individuals of the growing epidemic of fatty liver disease. Connect with us on www.fattyliverfoundation.org, Facebook (Fatty Liver Foundation JUST LIVER NEWS), Twitter (@LiverSaver), and YouTube (Fatty Liver Foundation).
MEDIA CONTACTS
Troy Keyser
VP of Partnerships
Secure AI Labs (SAIL)
(617) 936-9534
Henry E. Chang
Executive Director
Fatty Liver Foundation (FLF)
(917) 400-8900
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