Marta Tejedor Bravo, MD, clinical associate professor of internal medicine-gastroenterology and hepatology in the Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa (UI), has been awarded a 2025 International Programs’ Major Project Award for the initiative Metabolic Health in Motion: A Multidisciplinary Journey to Liver Wellness. This project aims to bring global attention to Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), a fast-growing and often under-recognized condition that is now the leading reason for advanced liver disease, liver cancer and liver transplantation worldwide.
The Major Project centers around an academic conference hosted by Iowa on September 19-20, 2025, titled A Global Insight into Metabolic Associated Liver Disease: International Perspectives. The two-day conference will gather internationally recognized experts to explore MASLD from clinical, public health, and global viewpoints. Topics include obesity, cardiovascular disease, organ donation, lifestyle interventions, and cutting-edge treatment options.
“The rising burden of MASLD is not just a local or national issue—it’s a global crisis,” said Tejedor Bravo. “Our goal is to unite clinicians, researchers, and the public to understand the scope of this disease and empower prevention through knowledge, diet, and exercise.”
In addition to the conference, Tejedor Bravo’s project takes a unique approach to public engagement. A series of accessible, community-oriented events will accompany the academic programming:
- Run for Your Liver, Run for Your Life, a community 5K race and fundraiser held at Centennial Park in North Liberty, Iowa, will raise awareness about MASLD and liver transplantation and support early-career liver transplant researchers through the International Liver Transplant Society’s Vanguard Young Investigator Research Grant.
- Cooking Your Way to a Healthy Liver will feature a Mediterranean diet workshop and live cooking demo led by an international chef. This will be a live, masterclass event, with 10-20 invited guests, and will be recorded and streamed worldwide.
- Move to Improve: Exercise for Liver Health offers a fitness masterclass that explains how physical activity supports liver function.
“These events bring the conversation beyond the clinic and into our kitchens, gyms, and neighborhoods,” said Tejedor Bravo. “That’s where real, sustainable change begins.”
“We’re excited to support a project that combines academic rigor with community engagement and international collaboration,” said Russ Ganim, associate provost and dean of International Programs. “Dr. Tejedor Bravo’s initiative exemplifies the mission of our Major Project Award by tackling a global health challenge in a locally grounded and globally minded way. This is a one-of-a-kind project which demonstrates an originality that IP seeks to reward and encourage.”
International Programs’ Major Project Award, made possible through the Stanley-UI Foundation Support Organization, promotes meaningful contributions to international scholarship, issues, and creative expression. To learn more about this year’s project and view the full list of events, visit https://liverwellness.sites.uiowa.edu/masld-conference.
International Programs (IP) at the University of Iowa (UI) is committed to enriching the global experience of UI students, faculty, staff, and the general public by leading efforts to promote internationally oriented teaching, research, creative work, and community engagement. IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research. IP shares their stories through various media, and by hosting multiple public engagement activities each year.