Fellowship elevates patient voices to ensure lived experience informs global decisions on MASH drug and diagnostic development
SEPTEMBER 10, 2025, BOISE, IDAHO, USA — The Fatty Liver Foundation (FLF) announced that the Dr. Stephen A. Harrison Patient Advocacy Fellowship will be introduced today at the Liver Forum 19 Meeting in Paris, France, to an international audience of regulators, academic leaders, innovators in MASH drug and diagnostic development, and patient advocates.
This occasion marks the program debut of the Fellowship before global stakeholders who are shaping the future of steatotic liver disease (SLD) research and care. Elena Samsonova, Manager of the Fellowship, will provide an overview of the initiative. Two Fellows from the inaugural cohort, representing patient advocacy communities in the United Kingdom and Ireland, will also take part in the meeting, highlighting the program’s global reach and collaborative focus.
“The Liver Forum was founded to accelerate pathways for new therapies and diagnostics through collaboration between regulators, academia, and industry. Integrating patient perspectives is essential to that mission. We are delighted to see the Harrison Fellowship bring the voices of patients directly into the scientific and regulatory conversation,” said Dr. Veronica Miller, Executive Director of the Liver Forum.
“The engagement of patient advocates is critically important in advancing MASH drug development. The Harrison Fellowship provides a unique mechanism to ensure those perspectives are informed, consistent, and impactful,” said Dr. Arun Sanyal, Academic Co-Chair of the Liver Forum’s Steering Committee.
“Dr. Harrison was deeply committed to ensuring patients were partners in research, not just subjects of it. This Fellowship honors his legacy by equipping a new generation of patient advocates with the skills, knowledge, and networks to shape the future of drug and diagnostic development,” said Wayne Eskridge, Co-Founder and CEO of the Fatty Liver Foundation.
“We are honored to bring the Fellowship to Liver Forum 19. This is a defining step in our effort to elevate patient voices at the same tables where science, regulation, and innovation converge,” said Henry E. Chang, Executive Director of the Fatty Liver Foundation.
“The inaugural Fellows were only recently announced and are about to embark on their year-long journey. Presenting this initiative in Paris is an important moment to share how the program is structured and how it will prepare patient advocates to contribute meaningfully to research, regulatory science, and care,” said Elena Samsonova, Manager of the Dr. Stephen A. Harrison Patient Advocacy Fellowship.
The Fellowship’s inaugural cohort includes 20 patient advocates from across the United States, Canada, the European Union, and the United Kingdom. Supported by Madrigal Pharmaceuticals as the inaugural sponsor, the program will provide Fellows with training in regulatory science, clinical research design, and policy engagement, and will involve them directly in scientific and stakeholder forums that shape the trajectory of MASH and steatotic liver disease care.
About the Dr. Stephen A. Harrison Patient Advocacy Fellowship
The Fellowship is a first-of-its-kind training program designed to equip patients and patient advocates with the knowledge, skills, and networks to meaningfully shape the future of drug and diagnostic development for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and other forms of steatotic liver disease (SLD). Launched in 2025, the program honors the legacy of Dr. Stephen A. Harrison by advancing patient leadership in science, regulatory innovation, and equitable access to care. Fellows participate in structured training, mentorship, and collaborative projects over the course of a year, with opportunities to contribute directly to research, policy, and care delivery. Learn more at www.harrisonfellows.org.
About the Fatty Liver Foundation
The Fatty Liver Foundation is a national non-profit patient organization dedicated to improving the identification, diagnosis, treatment, and support of individuals living with steatotic liver disease (SLD), including MASLD, MASH, and alcohol-associated conditions. Through awareness, screening, education, and advocacy, FLF works to ensure that every person—regardless of where they live or their ability to pay—can access the care and support they need to live well with liver disease. Connect with us at www.fattyliverfoundation.org, Facebook (Fatty Liver Foundation JUST LIVER NEWS), X (@LiverSaver), and YouTube (@Fatty Liver Foundation).
Media Contact
Henry E. Chang
Executive Director, Fatty Liver Foundation
[email protected]
+1 (917) 400-8900
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