Life Webinar | MASLD in Gastrointestinal Health: Advances in Clinical Research and Therapeutic Innovations
Life Webinar | MASLD in Gastrointestinal Health: Advances in Clinical Research and Therapeutic Innovations
Part of the Life Webinar series
30 March 2026
Gut microbiota, Fatty liver disease, Liver cirrhosis, Probiotics, Mediterranean diet, Epidemiology, Diagnosis, Treatment
Welcome from the Chair
5th Life Webinar
MASLD in Gastrointestinal Health: Advances in Clinical Research and Therapeutic Innovations
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has emerged as one of the most prevalent chronic liver conditions worldwide and represents a central component of gastrointestinal and metabolic health. Closely linked to obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes mellitus, MASLD reflects a complex pathophysiological network involving lipid metabolism dysregulation, chronic low-grade inflammation, and alterations in the gut–liver axis. Increasing evidence highlights the pivotal role of the gut microbiota in MASLD development and progression, influencing hepatic lipid accumulation, intestinal permeability, bile acid metabolism, and systemic metabolic homeostasis.
Recent advances in clinical and translational research have significantly improved our understanding of MASLD pathogenesis, particularly the mechanisms underlying hepatic steatosis, lipotoxicity, and metabolic dysfunction. High-throughput omics technologies, microbiome profiling, and non-invasive biomarkers have enabled more accurate disease stratification, early detection, and risk assessment. These innovations are contributing to a shift toward personalized and mechanism-based approaches in MASLD management.
Therapeutic strategies are also rapidly evolving. Beyond lifestyle interventions, novel pharmacological approaches targeting metabolic pathways have demonstrated promising results. In particular, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have shown significant benefits not only in improving glycemic control and promoting weight loss, but also in reducing hepatic steatosis and improving liver-related outcomes. Additionally, microbiota-modulating interventions and metabolic-targeted therapies represent emerging frontiers with the potential to address the underlying drivers of disease progression.
This webinar, will provide an overview of current advances in MASLD research, with a specific focus on the role of the gut microbiota, lipid metabolism dysregulation, and emerging therapeutic strategies such as GLP-1 RAs. The session aims to highlight novel insights and future directions to improve disease prevention, diagnosis, and personalized treatment in MASLD.
Date: 30 March 2026
Time: 3:00 pm CEST
Webinar ID: 879 9917 1740
Webinar Secretariat: journal.webinar@mdpi.com
Event Chair
1. Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Graecia”, Catanzaro, Italy
2. Center for Chronic Liver Diseases, “Renato Dulbecco” University Hospital, Catanzaro, Italy
Ludovico Abenavoli obtained his medical education at the “Catholic University”, Rome (Italy), and he graduated in Medicine in 2002. From 2005 to 2006, he was a fellow at the Liver Unit, Hôpital Saint Antoine, University Pierre et Marie Curie—Paris VI, Paris (France). In 2007, he specialized in internal medicine at the “Catholic University”, Rome (Italy). In 2010, he obtained his academic doctorate (PhD) in nutrition at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”[EE1.1], Rome (Italy). In 2011, he was invited as a researcher to the Liver Unit, Hôpital Jean Verdier, University of Paris XIII, Paris (France). From 2012 to 2014, he was an invited professor at the University of Batna (Algeria). In 2015, he was appointed Visiting Professor at the University of Novi Sad (Serbia). In 2016, he was appointed Visiting Professor at the University of Cluj-Napoca (Romania). Since 2017, he has been included in the Top Italian Scientists list. Since 2019, he has been included in the World’s Top 2% Scientists ranked by Stanford University. From 2021 to 2022, he was a member of the emergency COVID-19 unit at the Calabria Regional Government. He has been a Full Professor of Gastroenterology at the Department of Health Sciences, “Magna Graecia” University of Catanzaro, since 2024.
Keynote Speakers
1. Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Graecia”, Catanzaro, Italy
2. Center for Chronic Liver Diseases, “Renato Dulbecco” University Hospital, Catanzaro, Italy
Dr. Giuseppe Guido Maria Scarlata received his master’s degree in medical biotechnology from the University of Milan-Bicocca in 2018 and subsequently qualified as a Biologist at the University of Messina. He obtained a II Level Master's in Pharmaceutical Management, and subsequently a Specialization Diploma in Microbiology and Virology at the Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, where he serves as a tutor for students in the School of Medicine and Surgery, teaching Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology. He is currently enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Clinical and Experimental Biomedical Sciences at the Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, and is also a post-doctoral researcher in Gastroenterology at the same institution.
Internal Medicine and Nutrition Unit, "Madonna del Soccorso" General Hospital,San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy
Dr. Emidio Scarpellini is a physician and researcher with expertise in gastroenterology, clinical nutrition, and metabolic and gastrointestinal disorders. He completed two doctoral programs, earning a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from KU Leuven, Belgium, and a Ph.D. in Physiopathology of Metabolism and Nutrition from the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Italy. He also served as an Assistant Professor at Sapienza University of Rome and held a postdoctoral fellowship at the Gastroenterology Unit of the Polytechnic University of Marche. Dr. Scarpellini’s research focuses on gastrointestinal motility, nutrition, microbiota-related disorders, liver diseases, and metabolic dysfunction.
Department of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology with Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Dr. Andrej Belančić is a Specialist in Clinical Pharmacology and a Lecturer at the Department of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia. Recognized for his outstanding contributions to medical research, he was awarded the title of Best Young Scientist at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka. He has authored and co-authored over 150 scientific and professional full-text articles and approximately 200 scientific abstracts, contributed to national guidelines, authored multiple book chapters, and served as editor for several books, textbooks, and manuals. Dr. Belančić’s research focuses on clinical pharmacology, rare diseases (particularly in real-world evidence and pharmacoeconomics), and obesity and associated metabolic disorders. He is actively involved in professional societies, serving as Co-chair of the Early Career Clinical Pharmacologists Working Group of the European Association for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (EACPT), and is an active member of the Croatian Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.
Registration
This is a FREE webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar.
Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.
Certificates of attendance will be delivered to those who attend the live webinar.
Can’t attend? Register anyway and we’ll let you know when the recording is available to watch.
Program
|
Speaker/Presentation |
Time in CEST |
|
Ludovico Abenavoli (Chair) Chair Introduction |
3:00 - 3:10 pm |
|
Giuseppe Guido Maria Scarlata (Speaker 1) The Gut–Liver Axis in MASLD |
3:10 - 3:30 pm |
|
Emidio Scarpellini (Speaker 2) MASLD and Lipid Metabolism |
3:30 - 3:50 pm |
|
Andrej Belančić (Speaker 3) GLP-1 RAs in MASLD—Current Evidence and Future Therapeutic Horizons |
3:50 - 4:10 pm |
|
Q&A |
4:10 - 4:25 pm |
|
Ludovico Abenavoli (Chair) Closing of Webinar |
4:25 - 4:30 pm |
Relevant Special Issue
Gastrointestinal Health: Clinical Research and Therapeutic Innovations—2nd Edition
Edited by Prof. Dr. Ludovico Abenavoli and Dr. Giuseppe Guido Maria Scarlata
Deadline for manuscript submission: 18 September 2026
Sponsors and Partners
Organizers
