HIV and liver disease forum: Conference proceedings

A number of areas have been identified as needing further research. In terms of pathogenesis, a better understanding of the complex mechanisms involved in liver injury in coinfection is needed. Better models are needed to define viral and drug interactions. Until then, close cooperation between clinicians and researchers is required to ensure high-quality translational research. A better understanding of the natural history of coinfection in the era of HAART will be necessary. New tools to assess liver disease progression without the need for frequent biopsies will move the field forward and improve the likelihood of establishing the role of long-term suppression (in the case of HBV) or cure (in the case of HCV). In the United States and elsewhere, the National Institutes of Health are supportive of research endeavors seeking to answer key questions posed in this forum.