The GRIPonMASH consortium has reached a significant milestone in screening individuals at risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Julius Clinical is proud to contribute to this achievement.

The GRIPonMASH consortium, a European research initiative focused on advancing understanding, screening, and management of MASLD and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), has now enrolled more than 5,000 participants across Europe, surpassing the halfway point toward its goal of screening 10,000 individuals at risk of liver disease. In parallel, more than 25,000 biological samples have been collected and biobanked, paving the way for analyses into disease mechanisms and potential new biomarkers.

Julius Clinical is proud to lead Work Package 2 of the consortium alongside co-lead Echosens. As part of this work package, we are conducting the screening study, which has now reached 50% of its recruitment target.

Read the press release here.

Why this milestone matters

Reaching more than 5,000 participants represents more than a logistical achievement. Large-scale participation is essential for helping researchers better understand how MASLD prevalence and progression differs across populations and healthcare systems, particularly in relation to cardiometabolic risk factors.

The growing dataset and biobank will support future research into disease progression and diagnostic tools that may improve early identification of liver disease in at-risk populations.

Early findings from the project already demonstrate the importance of structured screening efforts. Approximately 60% of participants screened so far have MASLD (liver steatosis), while around 9% are at risk of significant fibrosis, many of whom are asymptomatic.

Julius Clinical’s role

Manuel Castro Cabezas and Rick Grobbee, both Scientific Officers at Julius Clinical, initiated the GRIPonMASH project and are part of the Consortium Coordination Team. Manuel serves as Scientific Director of the consortium and leads Work Package 2. He is supported by Vivian de Jong, Project Manager at Julius Clinical. This work package is responsible for the consortium’s screening study, which has now surpassed the halfway point toward its ambitious enrollment goal.

“Bringing all these samples from the sites to the central biobank is an important achievement and reflects the strong coordination led by the team at Julius Clinical. In the coming period, biochemical data will become available, helping us to better characterise the condition. We are very grateful to our partners who are working extensively in the lab to run these analyses,” said Prof. dr. Manuel Castro Cabezas of Julius Clinical.

What is GRIPonMASH?

GRIPonMASH is a European research consortium funded by IHI JU (101132946) bringing together academic institutions and industry partners to improve early detection and understanding of liver disease.

The clinical study is being conducted across 12 Centres of Excellence in 10 European countries in collaboration with primary care and outpatient clinics. The consortium focuses on strengthening screening pathways, improving disease identification, evaluating biomarkers, and supporting research into disease progression and liver health management.

As the prevalence of metabolic liver disease continues to rise globally, initiatives like GRIPonMASH play an important role in advancing scientific understanding and supporting earlier intervention strategies.

About AKEURA

AKEURA is a specialist contract research organization (CRO) with dual expertise in clinical and real-world settings, from early- through late-phase clinical development to real-world evidence (RWE). With more than 25 years of experience and more than 500 researchers, clinicians, and scientists across five continents, AKEURA helps sponsors advance medicines across their full lifecycle, with an exclusive focus on three therapeutic areas: neuroscience, infectious diseases and vaccines, and cardiometabolic diseases. In each, it brings the experience, reach, and hands-on expertise to give every promising medicine the study it deserves. Formerly P95 Julius Clinical, AKEURA is headquartered in Zeist, the Netherlands, and backed by Ampersand Capital Partners. Learn more at akeura.com.

GRIPonMASH funding and consortium partner logos

This project is supported by the Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking (IHI JU) under grant agreement No 101132946. The JU receives support from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme and COCIR, Efpia, EuropaBio, MedTech Europe, Vaccines Europe and Mercodia Aktiebolag, Metadeq Limited and Julius Clinical Research BV.

Funded by the European Union, the private members, and those contributing partners of the IHI JU. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the aforementioned parties. Neither of the aforementioned parties can be held responsible for them.