For several years, I led a series of Wilton Park dialogues—both in person and virtual—on steatotic liver disease (SLD), formerly known as fatty liver disease. Never before had the liver health field convened to address the public health and policy dimensions of NAFLD, now metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).
In close collaboration with Wilton Park Health Lead Nancy Lee and her colleague Henry Mark, the dialogues expanded the global community of practice and helped generate three landmark publications in leading journals (Hepatology, Journal of Hepatology, and Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology). The world’s leading hepatology and endocrinology societies took part, alongside patient advocacy groups—making these truly inclusive discussions.
Like our previous Wilton Park convenings on HIV and COVID-19—including the influential COVID consensus published in Nature—these discussions positioned SLD within the broader metabolic health agenda and proved to be a springboard for sustained action. They catalysed high-level recognition and follow-up activities such as the Economist Impact-hosted event “MASLD and MASH: prioritising a global public health threat” at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in 2024; the Devex-hosted dialogue “Global Metabolic Health: MASLD/MASH and other major NCDs” during UNGA in 2025; and the creation of the Global Think-Tank on Steatotic Liver Disease—all supported by ISGlobal Public Health Liver Group.
Indeed, Wilton Park has shown to be a powerful outlet to reach world leaders and shape strategic health discussions. From HIV to COVID-19 and now to steatotic liver disease–and, for that matter, many other health areas–Wilton Park serves as an exemplary think-space that can transform scientific insight into global recognition and policy action.
As I write this, I’m reminded that it is essential to continue preserving and strengthening the role of Wilton Park within public health matters. Because Wilton Park is where critical conversations begin and global collaborations and commitments are forged.
Professor Jeffrey V Lazarus
Head, Public Health Liver Group at ISGlobal
Director, Global Think-tank on Steatotic Liver Disease
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