Fact sheets
EASL'S Primary Activities
The European Association for the Study of the Liver is a renowned society of clinicians and scientists striving to promote liver research and improve the treatment of liver disease worldwide. EASL offers a wide range of educational activities including:
Endorsement / Sponsoring of Conferences
Throughout the year, the EASL receives many endorsement/sponsor requests from different meeting organizers. The EASL Governing Board allows time during every Governing Board meeting agenda to discuss EASL’s interests in these requests. A Governing Board member has been appointed to review each proposal. Comments and recommendations are made to the EASL Governing Board who takes the decision whether or not, to endorse, sponsor or be involved in the meetings.
Applicants’ meetings must fulfill certain requirements expressed in the guidelines published on the EASL website.
Monothematic Conferences
2 to 3 times a year, EASL organizes a monothematic conference. This kind of event also has established guidelines:
a. Single topic discussed in a State-of-the-Art format
b. Relevant issue to be presented or debated
c. No need to provide a document with conclusions
d. Scientific organizers will only be asked to build the scientific program (subject to evaluation by the EASL Governing Board), and run the meeting scientifically when it takes place. There will be no need for local fundraising as EASL covers full costs.
- Professional Congress Organizer: Kenes International centralizes the full technical organization
a. EASL's logo is to be used for announcements and recognition
b. Communication and mailing is to be done through EASL
c. Web links to website
- Place: Any European city with adequate congress center
- Proposers and Organizers: EASL members. 1 Co-ordinator + 2 co-assistants with experience in the field
Presentation of the proposal to the Governing Board for approval at least 1 year prior to the event
All Monothematic conferences welcome more than 200 participants. EASL Young Investigators bursaries are also granted to present authors of posters in the same conditions as during the International Liver Congress™.
EASL Special Conferences
Once a year , EASL organizes a Special conference. This kind of event also has established guidelines:
e. Single topic discussed in a State-of-the-Art format
f. Relevant issue to be presented or debated
g. No need to provide a document with conclusions
h. Scientific organizers will only be asked to build the scientific program (subject to evaluation by the EASL Governing Board), and run the meeting scientifically when it takes place.
Major sponsors of the EASL International Liver Congress will be approached for sponsorship. Premium Sponsors will have a waive booth
- Professional Congress Organizer: Kenes International centralizes the full technical organization
d. EASL's logo is to be used for announcements and recognition
e. Communication and mailing is to be done through EASL
f. Web links to website
- Place: Any European or International city with adequate congress center
- Proposers and Organizers: EASL and other liver societies representatives. 1 EASL co-chair + co-chairs from AASLD/APASL/ALEH and co-assistants with experience in the field
- Time Schedule: Presentation of the proposal to the Governing Board for approval at least 1 year prior to the event
Special conferences welcome more than 200 participants. EASL Young Investigators bursaries are also granted to present authors of posters in the same conditions as during the International Liver Congress™.
Clinical Practice Guidelines
EASL’s Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) define the use of diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive modalities, including non-invasive and invasive procedures, in the management of patients with various liver diseases. They are intended to assist physicians and other healthcare providers as well as patients and interested individuals in the clinical decision making process by describing a range of generally accepted approaches for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of specific liver diseases. CPG have to be distinguished from consensus statements and position papers.
- A consensus statement reports the conclusions of a consensus conference.
- A position paper reflects the opinions of experts.
EU Level - EU Framework Programme
There is a need for high quality applications to the European Union for funding to support research into liver disease. To this end, EASL has devised a grant scheme designed specifically to encourage applications under Framework Programme 7 (FP7). EASL support is open to groups of individuals led by one or more EASL members who wish to apply for funding within one of the EC Framework Programs. EASL provides support in three stages. For more information please refer to the EU Policy section of this website.
Sheila Sherlock Fellowship Programme
Goals:
- To stimulate an active contribution enabling the involvement of young scientists to support their research, for the benefit of all.
- To enhance the mobility of investigators within different European institutions and to actively promote scientific exchange among research units in Hepatology.
3 different Fellowships scheme are attributed each year:
- Up to 3 Post Doc research fellowships (1 year, 40,000 euros)
- Up to 3 Entry Level research fellowships (1 year, 30,000 euros)
- Short-Term Training fellowships. Each successful applicant receives 2,000 Euros per month for a maximum duration of 3 months.
Both Post-Doc research and Entry level research can be extended for a further year upon request from the applicants and following approval from the EASL Governing Board.
Young Investigators’ Bursaries
Two schemes of bursaries are attributed each year.
Goal: To support Young Investigators and to help them to attend the International Liver Congress™, Monothematic and Special Conferences
Two schemes of bursaries are attributed:
- Full Bursaries : 200 bursaries of 650 Euros are attributed to the presenting authors of the best 250 scored abstracts. (Bursaries are handed out by cheque at the International Liver Congress™).
- Registration Bursaries: Presenting authors of the remaining best accepted abstracts will have their registration fees waived.
In addition to the full bursaries and the registration bursaries, young investigators will also benefit from one year free membership at EASL.
EASL Schools of Hepatology
EASL hosts 3 schools every year: 2 Clinical and 1 Basic School, usually held in January or February, June and December. These educational events form part of a vast portfolio of activities, held apart from the annual International Liver Congress™, aimed to diffuse high standards of information in the field of hepatology.
Note: When the course takes place in a medical organization, research center, university etc., EASL will donate 5,000 Euros to support the organizing department’s activities.
An amount of 5000€ will be paid to the host institutions to be used as and where required. However, if the local organizers are taking of the overall program (hotels, rooms, lunches, dinners etc) this amount could be raised up to 10.000€
Nevertheless, the course organizers are free to take care of the practical organization or to use the EASL Professional Congress Organizer.
Webcasting
EASL provides webcasting of selected courses and conferences to its members via the EASL website. This method allows us to greatly expand the reach of specialized educational content provided at EASL events. In the webcasts it is possible to view full multimedia presentations and take part in interactive pre and post quizzes. For selected talks, PowerPoint slides are available for download.
E-series
Since 2008, EASL has offered an exclusive online educational tool as a membership benefit.
Original talks are recorded throughout the world and prepared uniquely for EASL members. Their aim is to disseminate a wide variety of topics related to liver disease and each talk in this series has been carefully selected by the EASL Governing Board. Each month, special topics are covered in-depth by experts.
International Liver Congress™
The International Liver Congress™ is held every year in April in major European cities, with adequate facilities and easy travel connections from all continents. Each meeting is composed of: State-of-the-art lectures and various symposia complemented with oral and poster presentations for submitted abstracts. The congress begins with Joint workshops followed by a postgraduate course that provides an overview of different features in hepatology.
Public Relations – Press Conferences
Each year in April, EASL organizes press conferences held during the International Liver Congress™
Award Ceremonies
During each International Liver Congress, EASL also organizes 3 award ceremonies which take place during General session 2 and 3:
- Recognition Award Ceremony
Two recognition awards are given to European members of EASL in the field of liver diseases. One EASL International Recognition Award is given. They receive a medal and a cheque.
- Fellowship Award Ceremony
Entry-Level and Post-doc fellowship awardees are announced during this ceremony and awarded on stage. They receive a certificate and a full young investigator bursary to cover their travel expenses to the International Liver Congress.
- Best Abstract and Best Poster
The best clinical abstract’s author and the best basic abstract’s author are awarded on stage. As well as the 5 best posters authors from the top 10% of posters. All of them receive a certificate. The best abstract awardees also receive a cheque of 3,000 Euros and the best posters awardees receive a cheque of 500 Euros.
EASL Society Booth at the International Liver Congress™
During the International Liver Congress™, the EASL Office manages a Society booth jointly with the Journal of Hepatology booth, the EASL booth aims to inform attendees about all EASL activities. Membership application and renewal can be done on-site. The booth is also a social gathering point where people can sit and discuss about EASL activities.
One EASL Office representative and the EASL membership operator are present at the EASL booth.
EASL Booths at other congresses
EASL aims to promote its association and its future meetings through other international meetings held by sister societies. Each year, EASL has an agreement to have a booth with the following societies: UEGW, AASLD, ALEH, and APASL.
An EASL Office representative attends these meetings and manages the EASL booth.
EASL Business Meetings
The EASL Business Meeting is the general assembly of our association. This session allows EASL members to ask questions and to have the latest news on the association’s affairs.
The Business Meeting is chaired by the Secretary General and has the following powers:
- To determine the country and venue of forthcoming meetings, at least two years in advance.
- To elect the members of the Governing Board (including members of the Scientific Committee, the Secretary General, the Vice-Secretary, the Treasurer and Educational Councillors).
- To approve the business report of the Governing Board and the annual accounts presented by the Treasurer and counter signed by an accountant.
- To approve the admission of new Ordinary Members, Corresponding Members and Training Members accepted by the Governing Board.
- To discharge the members of the functional bodies carrying out the business of the association.
- To pass resolutions regarding the allocation of yearly revenues.
- To approve the articles of association proposed by the Governing Board.
- To adopt and amend the articles of association.
- To approve the dissolution or the merger of the association.
- To pass resolutions regarding issues which are reserved to the Business Meeting by law or by the articles of association or which are presented to it by the Governing Board.
All Governing Board members are present during the business meeting. Different subjects and reports are made to members:
- Approval of last year minutes
- Finances : previous year annual report, next year budget, investments report
- Members figures
- Report on all different EASL activities
- Journal of Hepatology report
- Election of new Governing Board members
- Farewell to leaving committee members
In addition to the above stated activities, EASL is also involved in marketing and promotional actions to continually strengthen its position as a renowned society promoting liver research.
EASL Membership
EASL offers membership providing the following benefits:
- Free Subscription to the Journal of Hepatology
- Free participation to the EASL International Liver Congress™ (*)
- Reduced Registration Fees to all EASL Meetings (**)
- Free access to the webcasting/podcasting / E-series program
- Possibility to chair EASL early Morning Meetings and Symposia during the International Liver Congress™
- Possibility to host fellows as part of the EASL Fellowship Program
- Possibility to organize EASL Monothematic and Special Conferences
- Possibility to host one of the EASL Schools of Hepatology
- EASL NEWS - the EASL Members’ Newsletter
(*) For past members and new pre-approved members who have paid their dues before the date decided of the current year not including the Postgraduate Course.
(**) Details on meeting publications and websites
4 Membership categories are available:
- Regular members 150€ for Europe and Israel
- Corresponding members 180€ individuals from non-European countries
- Emeritus members 25€ open to any Regular member that has attained the age of 65 years and has been an EASL member for at least ten years. Members interested in Emeritus membership are asked to contact the EASL Office.
- Trainee members 100€ for those up to 35 years old who wish to become active members and benefit from the latest developments. Proof of age and status (copy of ID and letter from head of department) are required with the application.
The Journal of Hepatology
This is the official Journal of EASL. The Journal and the title "Journal of Hepatology" is a property of the association. Every member of the association receives regular issues and supplements of the journal at a special concessionary rate. The annual membership fee includes annual subscription to the journal.
The journal aims:
- To publish authoritative, original, and high-quality research papers in the Journal of Hepatology
- To actively solicit the submission of preeminent research updates in both active and emerging areas of importance in the field of liver disease and liver pathophysiology
- To promote the advancement of the field of Hepatology, fostering the scientific exchange of ideas in all of the sub-speciality areas incorporated in the Journal of Hepatology
The publishing company of the Journal of Hepatology is Elsevier. Each month Elsevier prints and sends the Journal of Hepatology to EASL members.
Newsletter – EASL What’s New?
Every two months, the EASL Office sends a newsletter to all EASL members and our society’s sponsors. The aim of these newsletters is to inform the EASL members about the association and its activities.
Websites
As well as the EASL society website that you are currently visiting, we also have different ‘mini’ websites for each EASL meeting (International Liver Congress™, Monothematic Conferences and Special Conferences).
Printed Material
Society Leaflet- Many Ways One Aim
EASL has a society leaflet describing our association and announcing the different meetings each year. This leaflet is updated regularly. EASL society leaflets are inserted into congress bags at:
- EASL International Liver Congress™
- EASL Monothematic Conference
- EASL School of Hepatology
- Endorsed / Sponsored Conferences
EASL society leaflets are also available at:
- EASL booth – EASL International Liver Congress™
- EASL booth – EASL Special Conference
- Endorsed / Sponsored Conferences
- EASL Booth – Other congresses
EASL meetings brochures
The EASL congress department also develops a meeting announcement brochure every time that an EASL International Liver Congress™ or conference is organized. These brochures are inserted into EASL congress bags and available at:
- EASL booth – EASL International Liver Congress™
- EASL booth – EASL Special Conference
- Endorsed / Sponsored Conferences
- EASL Booth – Other congresses
