The Yale Liver Center is one of 17 Silvio O. Conte Digestive Diseases Research Core Centers (DDRCC) supported by NIDDK and one of only three that focus on the study of liver structure, function, and disease. The Liver Center consists of four Core Facilities: 1) An Administrative Core; 2) A Cellular and Molecular Physiology Core; 3) A Morphology Core and 4) A Clinical-Translational Core. The research base focuses on three major basic/translational themes: (1) Hepatic metabolism, (2) Immunobiology and inflammation, and (3) Epithelial biology/pathobiology. The research programs range from fundamental studies of liver biology to translational studies of immediate clinical relevance. Major areas of liver disease examined within these themes include autoimmune diseases, cholestasis, fibrosis/cirrhosis, genetic diseases, infections, liver cancer, and MASLD/AALD. The major goals of the Center are: (1) to stimulate multidisciplinary interactions between basic and clinical faculty and departments, (2) to provide an in-depth training environment, (3) to efficiently organize time consuming, often costly techniques and procedures in Core Facilities for use by multiple investigators, (4) to stimulate basic scientists to direct their focus to areas of interest to the Center, (5) to stimulate translational research from bench to bedside, (6) to promote new research and training opportunities with a pilot feasibility program, and (7) to create an intellectual environment within the field by fostering collaborations both within and outside the institution through its enrichment program. As part of the Center’s enrichment program, we plan to host a scientific symposium for early-stage investigators pursuing digestive disease research concurrently with hosting the 2024 Annual DDRCC meeting. This program format will be like recent past meetings, including Univ. Penn (2018), UCSF (2020), MUSC (2022), and most recently Cincinnati (2023). Because the DDRCC program is dedicated to fostering the growth of early-stage investigators, these scientists will be a targeted audience of the symposium. Thirty-two early career scientists (two from each of the other 16 DDRCCs) will be subsidized to attend the event and participate by presenting their liver/digestive disease work as either an oral or poster presentation. Six investigators or approximately 20% will be selected based on their submitted abstracts to present their work as an oral presentation. The symposium will include opportunities for career development, mentoring and networking opportunities for the early-stage investigators. The DDRCC meeting also will focus on fostering collaborations among centers, sharing best practices for leading a successful center, and enhancing diversity and inclusion. All attendees will have an opportunity to learn about the cutting-edge liver/digestive disease scientific programs and research core technology services that are available at the Yale DDRCC as well as the other 16 centers. We ...