Steering Committee
Convener & Principal Investigator
Prof. Ajay Duseja
MD, DM, FAMS, FAASLD, FACG, FSGEI
Professor & Head (Unit II)
Department of Hepatology
Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Phone – 91-172-2754793
M- 9417007416
Email: ajayduseja@yahoo.co.in
Email: icon_d@gmail.com
Dear All
It gives me immense pleasure in connecting with you all through the Website of Indian Consortium on Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (ICON-D). I see the launch of ICON-D website as an encouraging step in this ongoing study of the Indian National Association for the Study of the Liver (INASL) taskforce on NAFLD. ICON-D is an Electronic Data Capture study, which is collecting the online, real-life hospital-based data on the full spectrum of patients with NAFLD in adolescents and adults across the country. The first meeting regarding the formation of this consortium was held in 2017 and after several rounds of meetings we finally launched the consortium during the Annual Meeting of INASL in August 2017. After more than a year of preparation, the study finally took off in December 2018. Initially the participation was by invitation but thereafter it was opened to all those interested in contribution; after submission of a feasibility questionnaire. I am happy to inform that as of today we have 35 active centers (across 24 cities) covering almost all regions of the country involving academic and non-academic centers in both public and private set up..
It gives me immense pleasure in connecting with you all through the Website of Indian Consortium on Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (ICON-D). I see the launch of ICON-D website as an encouraging step in this ongoing study of the Indian National Association for the Study of the Liver (INASL) taskforce on NAFLD. ICON-D is an Electronic Data Capture study, which is collecting the online, real-life hospital-based data on the full spectrum of patients with NAFLD in adolescents and adults across the country. The first meeting regarding the formation of this consortium was held in 2017 and after several rounds of meetings we finally launched the consortium during the Annual Meeting of INASL in August 2017. After more than a year of preparation, the study finally took off in December 2018. Initially the participation was by invitation but thereafter it was opened to all those interested in contribution; after submission of a feasibility questionnaire. I am happy to inform that as of today we have 35 active centers (across 24 cities) covering almost all regions of the country involving academic and non-academic centers in both public and private set up..
In a short span of 18 months, the consortium has enrolled around 4400 patients with NAFLD in the study; the preliminary data was presented in the oral plenary session of Asian Pacific Digestive Week (APDW)-2019 and soon we are planning to publish the interim results of last 18 months. In addition to collecting the real-life data, the consortium is now planning to conduct various multi-center studies on NAFLD and many such studies are in pipeline.
I must admit that the formation of ICON-D and the journey so far would not have been possible without the kind guidance and support by our mentor Prof Arun Sanyal; dynamic leadership of our chairperson Prof S. P. Singh and the kind cooperation of all the participating investigators I am also taking this opportunity to thank the past and present office bearersof INASL for their timely help and guidance in launching and sustaining this consortium.
Finally, my gratitude to Zydus Cadila for their unconditional Educational Grant to carry out this study.
We have had a successful beginning but have to go a long way in achieving the aims and objectives of the study. NAFLD is a major public health issue globally including India. United efforts at all levels are required to tackle this ongoing menace. ICON-D is a small such step in that direction which will give us a better insight in understanding the Indian phenotypes of NAFLD thereby helping us in planning the fruitful management strategies.
Looking forward to your suggestions, contribution and cooperation.
With Best Wishes
Ajay Duseja
We have had a successful beginning but have to go a long way in achieving the aims and objectives of the study. NAFLD is a major public health issue globally including India. United efforts at all levels are required to tackle this ongoing menace. ICON-D is a small such step in that direction which will give us a better insight in understanding the Indian phenotypes of NAFLD thereby helping us in planning the fruitful management strategies.
Looking forward to your suggestions, contribution and cooperation.
With Best Wishes
Ajay Duseja
