Prof. Jimmy Lai from our center has once again been awarded the Distinguished Research Paper Award by the Hong Kong College of Physicians, recognizing his contribution to advancing clinical understanding of chronic hepatitis B.

His award-winning study, titled “Histological severity, clinical outcomes and impact of antiviral treatment in indeterminate phase of chronic hepatitis B: A systematic review and meta-analysis,” analyzed findings from over 100 international studies involving more than 30,000 patients. The research examined the “indeterminate phase” of Hepatitis B — a stage where patients do not clearly meet the criteria for treatment but may still face hidden liver disease progression.

The study revealed that patients in this phase remain at measurable risk of developing cirrhosis, liver decompensation, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Importantly, those receiving antiviral therapy showed a significantly lower risk of developing HCC, suggesting potential benefit for selected high-risk patients.

Congratulations once again to Prof. Lai for this outstanding achievement and his continued dedication to liver health research. Our center remains committed to promoting scientific excellence and advancing better care for people with liver diseases.