The World Health Organization (WHO), Imperial College London, and the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) have launched a new WHO Collaborating Centre dedicated to tackling liver disease across the European Region.
The new centre, focused on steatotic liver disease (SLD), aims to turn scientific evidence into practical policies and actions to reduce the growing burden of liver-related illness and deaths.
Liver disease is one of the few major noncommunicable diseases still increasing in the WHO European Region. It is linked to around 780 deaths every day and creates an estimated €55 billion annual burden on health systems.
WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge warned that while many major causes of death are declining, liver disease continues to move in the wrong direction. He highlighted alcohol use, unhealthy diets, and viral hepatitis as key preventable risk factors.
Steatotic liver disease, previously known as fatty liver disease, often develops without noticeable symptoms. It occurs when excess fat builds up in liver cells and can progress to serious conditions such as cirrhosis and liver cancer if left untreated.
The new centre will support countries by developing evidence-based guidance, strengthening prevention strategies, and helping governments integrate liver health into wider noncommunicable disease programmes.
Experts say many cases of liver disease could be prevented by addressing major lifestyle and environmental factors. However, highly processed foods, sugary products, alcohol availability, and targeted marketing continue to increase exposure to unhealthy choices.
In 2026, the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution recognizing steatotic liver disease as a noncommunicable disease and called on countries to improve prevention, monitoring, and treatment efforts.
The centre will focus on research, policy development, training, and technical support over the next four years. Planned activities include assessing the scale of SLD across Europe, creating prevention tools, and helping countries implement stronger health programmes.
Health experts say the launch represents a shift from simply recognizing the liver disease crisis to building systems that can prevent it.
With coordinated action and stronger public health policies, the new WHO Collaborating Centre aims to reduce the impact of liver disease and improve long-term health outcomes across the European Region.
