The Silk Road begins in Chang'an, with the sounds of camel bells echoing through history. From October 17 to 19, the 10th "Silk Road Hepatology" Academic Conference was held in Xi'an, the starting point of the ancient Silk Road. The conference aimed to share the latest achievements and academic insights in liver disease research from both domestic and international perspectives, offering in-depth analysis of the latest guidelines and consensuses. It also closely linked clinical features in the Belt and Road regions, addressing current challenges, and discussing both trending and difficult issues in the field. Hepatology Digest reporters attended the event to interview the conference chairman, Dr. Shuangsuo Dang from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University.Hepatology Digest: This is the 10th “Silk Road Hepatology” Academic Conference. Could you take us through the journey of the past ten years?
Dr. Shuangsuo Dang: The “Silk Road Hepatology” Academic Conference was initially set up in response to China’s “Belt and Road” initiative. With this context, we realized the need to focus on public health alongside economic development. The Silk Road’s starting point and adjacent areas are predominantly in China’s western regions, which are vast but relatively lacking in medical resources compared to central and eastern regions. Thus, the “Silk Road Hepatology” Academic Conference came into existence and has grown significantly since then.
Reflecting on these ten years, we’ve received strong support and invaluable contributions from colleagues in the field of hepatology, both domestically and abroad. Over this decade, our audience of medical practitioners has surpassed 500,000. Many young doctors who have attended the conference for training and discussion have now become key figures in hepatology departments along the Silk Road and even lead disciplines in their institutions, thereby significantly raising the standard of liver disease diagnosis and treatment in local hospitals. More importantly, we have contributed to the standardization and alignment of liver disease treatment with both national and international practices.
Moreover, based on the “Silk Road Hepatology” platform, we have organized several regional academic conferences in cities, including some remote areas like Xinjiang. Today, the “Silk Road Hepatology” Academic Conference is a celebrated name in the field, especially in the western hepatology sector, not only leading academic pursuits but also in promoting learning across the field. In this way, the significance of the “Silk Road Hepatology” Conference is tremendous.
Finally, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to colleagues in the hepatology community, particularly leading experts in China, for their selfless dedication and for sharing their expertise through the conference.
Hepatology Digest: This year’s conference has a richer, more diverse program compared to previous years. As the chairman, could you highlight some of the key features of this year’s event?
Dr. Shuangsuo Dang: While continuing the traditions of previous sessions, this year’s “Silk Road Hepatology” Academic Conference introduces several new features. First, we are still focusing on the latest guidelines and consensuses. However, we’ve also established several specialty topics, such as metabolic-associated fatty liver disease and genetic metabolic liver diseases, to thoroughly explore these trending and challenging issues.
With ongoing advancements in medical standards, clinical cohort research has been widely conducted in hepatology. One highlight of this conference is the “Chang’an Project,” where we will review progress and share the latest research outcomes. Additionally, the “Rui Liver” project will be officially launched, along with the “14th Five-Year” key program led by Academician Fusheng Wang and Dr. Junliang Fu, where we will review its progress. Thus, in terms of clinical research cohorts, we’re not only showcasing recent research outcomes but also gathering relevant experts for deep discussion to lay the groundwork for future initiatives.
A notable shift in focus this year is the emphasis on “screening” rather than “treatment,” underscoring the importance of early liver disease detection and screening. The conference emphasizes early screening for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and early liver cancer diagnosis. Additionally, in the realm of treatment, we highlight the importance of multidisciplinary team (MDT) treatment for liver tumors, as well as academic discussions around complex liver tumors. This expansion broadens the scope of our conference content.
Finally, health education is a major focus. For the public, we aim to promote health awareness and self-care through the conference; as physicians, we strive for early disease detection, timely treatment, and proactive intervention.
Hepatology Digest: Previously, case sharing occupied only half a day, but this year you’ve scheduled two and a half days for case discussions. What prompted this change?
Dr. Shuangsuo Dang: We’ve integrated case discussions within disease-specific topics, which adds concreteness to theoretical or progress-oriented discussions. For instance, Dr. Yongguo Li from the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University discussed potential liver damage from hepatoprotective drugs, which led to deeper insights. By using a typical case, he effectively illustrated theoretical and common consensus issues, making the concepts more tangible and relatable.
In the past, we presented cases in broader categories, but this year we gathered over 50 cases and conducted an extensive selection process. We chose about a dozen challenging or unique cases and integrated them into different disease topics, allowing young physicians to present. This approach serves three purposes: giving young doctors a platform to share alongside experts, adding flexibility and variety to the conference, and making abstract or review-oriented issues more specific, helping attendees better understand and address complex case challenges.
Hepatology Digest: Over the past decade of “Silk Road Hepatology” conferences, what feedback and expectations have you received from the attending doctors, especially those from the Northwest?
Dr. Shuangsuo Dang: From day one, the hall was filled to capacity, with some doctors even struggling to find seats, reflecting the strong interest and anticipation from the attendees. Throughout the ten-year history of the “Silk Road Hepatology” conference, we’ve consistently adjusted the format, particularly emphasizing variety and practicality in content to ensure the conference resonates with attendees.
Learning is a lifelong journey, and the “Silk Road Hepatology” conference has greatly enriched us over these ten years. In exploring and growing, we understand that health remains a fundamental theme in human survival and development. Therefore, we must keep up with the times. To meet public needs, we will continue to refine and enhance the content of our conferences.
Looking forward, Xi’an, as the starting point of the ancient Silk Road and the hub of Northwest development, will shoulder relevant responsibilities. I am confident that future successors will carry on this mission. In liver disease treatment and diagnosis, we aim to align with global standards, providing tangible benefits to our people and enhancing our doctors’ skills and perspectives.
