CA25109 - Integrated Management and Personalized Approaches for Autoimmune Hepatitis Care and Treatment (IMPACT)

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic, immune-mediated liver disease that affects individuals of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. Its prevalence and incidence are rising and, without proper treatment, AIH carries a high risk of mortality and severe complications, including liver failure and the need for transplantation. Disease mechanisms remain incompletely understood and, despite clinical advances, no curative therapy exists and clinical expertise is unevenly distributed across Europe.

IMPACT aims to create a pan-European, interdisciplinary network that unites clinical investigators, nurses, basic scientists, international organisations, patient representatives, and industry partners to tackle the multifaceted challenges of AIH care and research.

The initiative will pursue two overarching objectives:

1. Improving equity of care – by strengthening training, education, awareness, consultation platforms, and collaborative networks to reduce disparities and improve patient outcomes.
2. Driving innovation and therapeutic development – through integrated research efforts that elucidate disease mechanisms, foster translational discovery, and accelerate new treatment strategies.

Six thematic Working Groups will lead activities across key domains: (i) patient experience and quality of life; (ii) pathogenesis and therapeutic targets; (iii) epidemiology and diagnostic optimisation; (iv) personalised therapy: childhood, family planning and beyond; (v) clinical trial development; and (vi) outcomes and prognosis. Three cross-sectional Groups will provide support in governance, legal affairs and dissemination, training and education, and artificial intelligence applications.

By harmonising clinical practice, integrating scientific expertise, and prioritising patient-centred approaches, IMPACT will improve outcomes and quality of life for individuals with AIH across Europe—while training the next generation of clinician-scientists to ensure sustainable progress.