A project in Greater Manchester is helping to identify patients at risk of liver disease early, with over 2000 patients screened to date.

The Early Detection of Liver Disease research project (ID LIVER) takes a targeted and streamlined approach to identifying, assessing and managing patients at increased risk of liver disease in underserved communities. The project, led by researchers at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and The University of Manchester (UoM), is helping to identify liver disease in patients much earlier and builds on the expertise developed through the Innovate UK-funded project – Integrated Diagnostics for Early Detection of Liver Disease, to develop innovative care pathways for identifying, assessing and managing at-risk patients in the community.

To date, over 2000 patients have consented to be part of the ID LIVER study, with more than 600 assessed in community settings across Greater Manchester over the last year, as part of the Health Innovation Accelerator.

This research project is delivered as part of a series of projects that looks to address Greater Manchester’s major diseases for the Advanced Diagnostics Accelerator (ADA), part of the Health Innovation Accelerator. The Accelerator has been established to rapidly improve the diagnosis and treatment of disease across the 2.8m Greater Manchester population.

Stephanie Landi, Clinical Research Hepatology Fellow at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), said: “ID LIVER is shifting the focus of liver disease care towards early detection and intervention. By bringing liver health assessments directly into communities, we are removing barriers to access and reaching people who might otherwise present much later with advanced disease. We also know that liver disease disproportionally impacts those living in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation, so by targeting these communities, we are ensuring care reaches those who need it the most. Early detection empowers individuals to understand their liver health and make informed decisions before complications develop.”

Tony, aged 68 from Greater Manchester – “it’s all about you, the patient”

Tony decided to act on this referral after meeting the criteria for the screening opportunity and followed up before an appointment was made for him. He explained that he was pleasantly surprised that the health-check was so easily accessible for him:

“An appointment was made for me… I turned up and it was all very pleasant, there was no stress, no worry – I just turned up, did the test which was a scan, and that was it. The opportunity is there and there are people out there who want to help you, it’s all being done to help you. It’s all about you, the patient.

“The thing for me, is that it’s done in my locality, it’s within walking distance… the way this is being done, this is the beauty of it, you’re just there and it’s all about you. It’s intimate really and it makes life easier. If you take the opportunity to get screened and get looked at, you’re cutting out a load of possible aggravation in the future.”

ID Liver participants are benefiting from state-of-the-art Greater Manchester Research Van – operated by MFT. The purpose-built vehicle is unique to the region with the goal of widening opportunities for people to be part of research in easy-to-reach locations, improving the relevance and quality of the research. as well as being more inclusive for members of the public.

Oliver Street, Programme Manager, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology & Gastroenterology, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health at The University of Manchester, said: “Early detection and prevention of liver disease is extremely important because often symptoms do not present until the disease is advanced and damage to the liver is irreversible. By identifying and assessing patients at increased risk of liver disease we are supporting patients in receiving the right treatment at the right time and developing improved pathways of care.”

Daniel Zamora, Programme Director – Health Innovation Accelerator at Health Innovation Manchester, said: “This project is another fantastic example of how a targeted approach for early detection and community screening is having a lasting positive impact on the treatment of disease for people across Greater Manchester. Through the Accelerator we’ve now seen a considerable number of patients tested and screened for some of our region’s most prevalent diseases. This work will continue to help us shape how we can identify and treat patients moving forward with the use of innovative solutions across primary, secondary and community care settings.”

Further information about the Health Innovation Accelerator:

This project is delivered as part of a series of projects that looks to address Greater Manchester’s major morbidities for the Advanced Diagnostics Accelerator (ADA), part of the Health Innovation Accelerator. The Health Innovation Accelerator has been established to rapidly improve the diagnosis and treatment of disease across the 2.8m Greater Manchester population.

The Health Innovation Accelerator encompasses two projects, the Advanced Diagnostics Accelerator and the DEVOTE programme, delivered through a partnership between Health Innovation Manchester, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), The University of Manchester, and industry partners.

This project is part-funded by the Greater Manchester Innovation Accelerator programme. Led by Innovate UK on behalf of UK Research and Innovation, the pilot Innovation Accelerator programme invested £100m in 26 transformative R&D projects between 2022-25 to accelerate the growth of three high-potential innovation ecosystems – Glasgow City Region, Greater Manchester and West Midlands. The programme was boosted by an additional £30m of public funding for 2025/26 spread equally across the regions. Innovation Accelerators are piloting a new model of R&D decision making that empowers local partnerships to harness innovation to drive regional economic growth, attract private investment, and develop future technologies.