A Special Interview with Dr. Mariana Verdelho Machado - Metabolism and Target Organ Damage

On November 6, 2023, the Editorial Office of Metabolism and Target Organ Damage (M&TOD) had the privilege of conversing with Dr. Mariana Verdelho Machado, a renowned scientist and a valued member of the Editorial Board of M&TOD. In this exclusive interview, she provided insights into critical areas of liver health research. She discussed challenges and discoveries in the field of NAFLD-related HCC, the significance of hepatic steatosis post-liver transplantation, the impact of new NAFLD and MAFLD definitions on clinical practice, the role of global collaborations in addressing liver diseases, and key factors for maintaining high manuscript quality. Her interview offers a valuable glimpse into the impactful contributions that continue to shape the landscape of live health research.

Questions for this interview:

1. You have published numerous significant papers in the field of NAFLD, particularly regarding the relationship between NAFLD and HCC. What, in your opinion, are the current major challenges and important findings in the field of NAFLD‐related HCC?

2. Recently, you conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on hepatic steatosis after liver transplantation. Could you elaborate on the significance of this study for the health of liver transplant patients and share any profound insights into its results?

3. The new definitions of NAFLD and MAFLD have sparked widespread discussions. How do you believe these new terms impact disease classification and treatment in practice? How has it influenced clinical practice?

4. Your research involves multi-center clinical trials and international collaborations. Could you share insights into your experiences with these collaborations and how they promote global cooperation in addressing diseases like NAFLD?

5. As an active reviewer and a member of the Editorial Boards of several international journals, you are well aware that the quality of manuscripts plays a pivotal role in the growth of a journal. Could you please share your perspective on the key factors in maintaining and ensuring the high quality of manuscripts？

Personal Introduction:

Mariana Verdelho Machado, affiliated with the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Hospital de Vila Franca de Xira in Lisbon, Portugal. Since 2010, Dr. Machado has been an integral member of the Editorial Board of J Port Gastroenterol, assuming the role of Associate Editor in 2017. She serves as a reviewer for esteemed journals such as Adv Ther, Aliment Pharmacol Ther, Ann Nutr Metab, BMC Gastroenterol, Br J Nutr, Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol, Dig Dis Sci, Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol, Gut, J Clin Invest, J Clin Gastroenterol, J Gastroenterol Hepatol, J Hepatol, Liver Int, Plos One, and Scand J Gastroenterol.

Furthermore, Dr. Machado's influence extends to the assessment of international research projects, having been a project reviewer for the French National Institute for Scientific Research in 2013 and the Swiss National Science Foundation in 2017. With over 100 published articles, her work has garnered nearly 7,000 citations.

Editor: Alani Luo
Language Editor: Catherine Yang
Production Editor: Kenny Wu
Respectfully Submitted by the Editorial Office of Metabolism and Target Organ Damage