Before joining the EASL Governing Board, British Professor Mark Thursz, MD FRCP, Professor of Hepatology, was very active on a national level in promoting the interests of Hepatology as a speciality and, perhaps more importantly, promoting the interests of patients. His research and clinical interests in genetics, viral hepatitis, fibrosis and NAFLD complement the interests of other EASL Governing Board members.

For three years, Mark Thursz was the Secretary of the British Association for Study of the Liver (BASL) during which he campaigned for a National Service Framework for liver disease and co-wrote the National Plan for Liver Services which is now going to be implemented by the UK Department of Health. Since then, he established and now chairs the British Liver Disease Clinical Interest Group which coordinates multicentre clinical research in liver disease across the UK.

Mark has shown skills and experience throughout his 2 years as EASL Vice-Secretary that have led to advance the cause of Hepatology at European level. As of April 2011, we sincerely wish him all the best in his new role as EASL Secretary General.