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In the UK, January is Love your Liver Month, which raises awareness of liver disease, how you can support the function of this vital organ and the early warning signs of when something is wrong.

Liver disease is the third most common cause of premature death in the UK and unfortunately that number is on the rise. The British Liver trust outlines the three main areas where you can help ensure your liver is functioning at it’s best, these are: limiting your alcohol consumption to no more than the recommended 14 units per week, losing weight and eating a healthy balanced diet and protecting yourself against blood-borne viruses such as hepatitis B and C as this can cause permanent damage to the liver.

Stefano Bellentani is January’s Faculty Member of the Month. He is a Chief Of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Service at Clinica Santa Chiara in Switzerland and Chief of the Scientific Committee of the Italian Liver Center in Italy. The clinical epidemiology of chronic liver disease is his main area of research. As it is Lover your Liver month, we wanted to get some advice straight from the expert and find out a little bit more about his career.

What is the best advice you could you give to help people ‘Love their Liver’?

People should try to preserve their liver – which is the body’s chemical laboratory – through a healthy lifestyle. The liver is a “Good and silent warrior”, it is silent, and it does not show any signs until it loses more than 2/3 of its functions.  To save it’s vital functions, I always say to my patients “Don’t drink too much alcohol, eat healthy, be active and positive : that’s the way to love your liver, and your liver will love you.”

What initially drew you to the field of Gastroenterology and Hepatology? 

I chose to work and conduct research in the field of Hepatology, because I was excited by the teaching and the lessons of my mentor Prof. Mario Coppo, who was one of the best Clinicians and Researchers in Italy in the sixties and seventies.

Could you describe what an average day is like for you, and your favourite part?

Even at my age, I am still working more than 8 hours per day, because my work is my first passion. However, my favourite part of the day is when I come home and I can dedicate some time to my family. I always set aside some time to read new discoveries and reflect in peace on what I must do to ameliorate my knowledge and skills to better serve my patients.

Can you tell us a little bit about your work and current research?

I am essentially a clinical-epidemiologist and my ultimate field of research is Epidemiology of NAFLD and NASH in different European Countries, especially Italy and Switzerland. To know the pattern of different liver diseases worldwide is essential to plan future research and to implement new social and political strategies of public intervention.

What do you like most about being a faculty member of F1000Prime?

I like the collaboration with other members and the continuous stimulation that F1000Prime gives you to maintain updates in your field of research.

What would you say is the best piece of career advice that you received that you would like to pass on to early career researchers?

My first and best piece of career advice that I received and that I will pass to the novel researchers is: “Make sure you are and maintain always the best qualities of a researcher: Be and stay Creative, Enthusiastic, Persevering and Honest with yourself and with the entire world”