Every third person in India is suffering from Liver related disorder: Dr Shalimar
Lucknow: As part of the 84th CSIR Foundation Day celebrations and the Translational Research Lecture Series, the CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow, organized an invited lecture on “Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD): The Silent Killer.” The lecture was delivered by Prof. Shalimar, Professor, Department of Gastroenterology and Human Nutrition Unit, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, and presided over by Dr. Radha Rangarajan, Director, CSIR-CDRI, Lucknow.
Prof. Shalimar, an eminent hepatologist with expertise in fatty liver, liver failure, and Budd-Chiari syndrome, discussed the alarming rise of MASLD—previously known as NAFLD—as the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. He highlighted that the disease burden in India is rapidly increasing due to obesity, diabetes, and sedentary lifestyles.
During his presentation, Prof. Shalimar shared data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study, which projected a sharp rise in overweight and obesity across South Asia, including India, by 2050. He explained that this escalating trend is closely linked to the growing incidence of metabolic liver diseases such as MASLD, underscoring the urgent need for public awareness, lifestyle modification, and preventive healthcare strategies.
He also spoke about advances in the diagnosis and management of MASLD, emphasizing the importance of early detection, lifestyle changes, and research toward new therapeutic options. The session offered valuable insights into integrating Indian epidemiological data with global research therapeutic strategies and encouraged young scientists to explore translational and clinical research opportunities in metabolic liver diseases.
Alongwith CDRI students and faculty more than 150 students from the Departments of Biotechnology and Pharmacy of Maharishi University of Information Technology, Lucknow, and Sri Sharda Group of Institutions attended the lecture. They enthusiastically interacted with the speaker, gaining exposure to the latest developments in liver disease research. The event concluded with an engaging discussion and vote of thanks. The lecture was part of CSIR-CDRI’s ongoing efforts to promote scientific dialogue and collaboration in addressing major public health challenges.
