Asian Liver Center
Encyclopedia
The Asian Liver Center is a non-profit organization at Stanford University
that researches the high incidence
of hepatitis B and liver cancer
in Asian
s and Asian American
s. The Asian Liver Center (ALC) was founded in 1996 to spearhead educational outreach and advocacy efforts in the areas of hepatitis B and liver cancer prevention and treatment, serves as a resource for both the general public and health practitioners, and implements clinical and research programs. The ALC uses a three-pronged approach towards fighting hepatitis B through outreach and education, advocacy, and research.
(JRC) was launched by the Asian Liver Center (ALC) at Stanford University
in May 2001 during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
to help spread awareness internationally about hepatitis B (HBV) and liver cancer
in Asian and Pacific Islander (API)
communities.
The objective of the Jade Ribbon Campaign is two-fold: (1) to eradicate HBV worldwide; and (2) to reduce the incidence and mortality associated with liver cancer.
Considered to be the essence of heaven and earth, Jade
is believed in many Asian cultures to bring good luck and longevity while deflecting negativity. Folded like the Chinese character
“人” (ren) meaning "person" or "people," the Jade Ribbon symbolizes the spirit of the campaign in bringing the Asian and global community together to combat this silent epidemic.
Since the campaign's founding, the Asian Liver Center (ALC) has been spearheading the Jade Ribbon Campaign through public service announcements in various media such as newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, billboard, and buses targeting communities with large API populations. The ALC also holds numerous seminars for health professionals and the public, cultural fairs, conferences, and HBV screening/vaccination events.
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
that researches the high incidence
Incidence (epidemiology)
Incidence is a measure of the risk of developing some new condition within a specified period of time. Although sometimes loosely expressed simply as the number of new cases during some time period, it is better expressed as a proportion or a rate with a denominator.Incidence proportion is the...
of hepatitis B and liver cancer
Liver cancer
Liver tumors or hepatic tumors are tumors or growths on or in the liver . Several distinct types of tumors can develop in the liver because the liver is made up of various cell types. These growths can be benign or malignant...
in Asian
Asian people
Asian people or Asiatic people is a term with multiple meanings that refers to people who descend from a portion of Asia's population.- Central Asia :...
s and Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
s. The Asian Liver Center (ALC) was founded in 1996 to spearhead educational outreach and advocacy efforts in the areas of hepatitis B and liver cancer prevention and treatment, serves as a resource for both the general public and health practitioners, and implements clinical and research programs. The ALC uses a three-pronged approach towards fighting hepatitis B through outreach and education, advocacy, and research.
History
The Asian Liver Center was founded in 1996 by Dr. Samuel So, MD, FACS. Since its establishment in 1996, the Asian Liver Center (ALC) has become a national and international leader in the fight against hepatitis B and liver cancer. With the help of a strong network of hundreds of governmental and nongovernmental agencies, state and federal legislators, private corporations and foundations, and community partners, the ALC has forged new ground in outreach, education, advocacy, and research for the global eradication of hepatitis B and liver cancer.Outreach and Education
The key to winning the fight against hepatitis B and liver cancer is prevention, and prevention begins with outreach and education. For the past decade, the Asian Liver Center has been dedicated to serving the Asian community through a variety of outreach and education programs. A HBV safe and effective vaccine is readily available, offering full protection from the hepatitis B virus (HBV), but many API are not vaccinated simply because they are not aware of the problem and its prevalence in their community. The Asian Liver Center regularly participates in community events throughout the Bay Area, providing screenings and low-cost vaccinations, hosting educational booths and games, speaking to health care providers and developing workshops to spread awareness about hepatitis B and liver cancer. The outreach section of our site gives details about our screenings, conferences, community events, advocacy efforts, partnerships, ongoing projects, and contests. The education section of our site includes detailed information about hepatitis B, liver cancer, vaccination and blood tests as well as patient testimonials and resources for health care providers.Advocacy
In order to successfully eradicate HBV, we must unite together and speak out against this silent killer. The ALC works on the local, statewide, national and international levels to promote hepatitis B and liver cancer awareness and to support the expansion of the Jade Ribbon Campaign. In California, the Asian Liver Center is working with Assemblywoman Fiona Ma to pass Assembly Bill 158, which will provide care for all uninsured and under-insured people who are chronically infected with hepatitis B, with no raise in taxes. Nationally, the Asian Liver Center worked with Congressman Mike Honda co-sponsored a bill early in 2006 to designate the first National Hepatitis B Awareness Week in May 2006. In April 2004, the Jade Ribbon Campaign was launched by the ALC in China in partnership with the China Foundation for Hepatitis Prevention and Control at the China National Hepatitis Conference. The Asian Liver Center continues to advocate for laws that prevent hepatitis B discrimination, strategies to provide access to affordable screenings, vaccinations and treatment, and partnerships to unite together against HBV and liver cancer.Research
The Asian Liver Center conducts translational research by which our scientific research is translated into practical applications to improve human health. Research in liver cancer has generally received low priority for federal funding in this country, contributing to the current lack of effective treatment for chronically infected individuals. We are committed to finding novel approaches to increase the efficacy of diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment through the development of a comprehensive liver cancer research program with an emphasis on liver cancer genomics, biomarkers, molecular targets, and investigational anti-tumor agents. The ALC is currently working on a perinatal hepatitis B prevention initiative to design and implement strategies to prevent mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B in Alameda and Santa Clara counties, where the combined population of about 3.2 million experiences some of the highest rates of chronic HBV and liver cancer in the US. The Asian Liver Center is dedicated to its clinical research and community research programs to ensure patients receive the most effective treatment and that its outreach efforts make the largest possible impact for a healthier community. Through its multi-faceted translational research, the ALC hopes to change national policies and the attitudes of healthcare providers towards HBV and liver cancer prevention through sound, evidence-based information from vigorous lab, clinical and community-based research studies.Jade Ribbon Campaign
The Jade Ribbon CampaignJade Ribbon Campaign
The Jade Ribbon Campaign was launched by the Asian Liver Center at Stanford University in May 2001 during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month to help spread awareness internationally about hepatitis B and liver cancer in Asian and Pacific Islander communities.The objective of the Jade Ribbon...
(JRC) was launched by the Asian Liver Center (ALC) at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in May 2001 during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month , officially proclaimed "Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month" by President Barack Obama, is a celebration of the culture, traditions, and history of Asians Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States...
to help spread awareness internationally about hepatitis B (HBV) and liver cancer
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type of liver cancer. Most cases of HCC are secondary to either a viral hepatitide infection or cirrhosis .Compared to other cancers, HCC is quite a rare tumor in the United States...
in Asian and Pacific Islander (API)
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
communities.
The objective of the Jade Ribbon Campaign is two-fold: (1) to eradicate HBV worldwide; and (2) to reduce the incidence and mortality associated with liver cancer.
Considered to be the essence of heaven and earth, Jade
Jade
Jade is an ornamental stone.The term jade is applied to two different metamorphic rocks that are made up of different silicate minerals:...
is believed in many Asian cultures to bring good luck and longevity while deflecting negativity. Folded like the Chinese character
Chinese character
Chinese characters are logograms used in the writing of Chinese and Japanese , less frequently Korean , formerly Vietnamese , or other languages...
“人” (ren) meaning "person" or "people," the Jade Ribbon symbolizes the spirit of the campaign in bringing the Asian and global community together to combat this silent epidemic.
Since the campaign's founding, the Asian Liver Center (ALC) has been spearheading the Jade Ribbon Campaign through public service announcements in various media such as newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, billboard, and buses targeting communities with large API populations. The ALC also holds numerous seminars for health professionals and the public, cultural fairs, conferences, and HBV screening/vaccination events.