Between grateful remembrance and an ambitious outlook for the future—we honor Michael Manns’ lifetime achievements.
Dear colleagues and friends,
It is with great pleasure and deep gratitude that we welcome you to the symposium “Milestones and Horizons in Hepatology – A Tribute to Michael Manns” this June in Hannover.
For 28 years, Michael Manns led the Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Endocrinology at Hannover Medical School and subsequently served as President of Hannover Medical School. Few individuals have shaped hepatology in Germany, Europe, and worldwide as profoundly as he did. Through his scientific vision, clinical excellence, and extraordinary commitment to mentorship, he built a truly unique and internationally recognized hepatology center here in Hannover.
With this special symposium, we wish to honor Michael Manns and celebrate his lifelong contributions to hepatology. We are deeply grateful that an outstanding international faculty has accepted our invitation and will join us in Hannover for this occasion.
The scientific program reflects the breadth of his work and impact. Topics will include metabolic liver diseases, liver cirrhosis, autoimmune liver diseases, hepatobiliary tumors, viral hepatitis, and liver transplantation. In each session, an international colleague and long-time collaborator will reflect on Michael Manns’ seminal contributions to the field, followed by presentations from a young faculty member based in Hannover highlighting current developments and ongoing research activities on our campus. In this way, we aim to connect the milestones he helped establish with the horizons that lie ahead.
We are truly delighted to welcome you all and look forward to stimulating discussions, inspiring scientific exchange, and a shared remembrance of Michael Manns’ remarkable legacy.
Warm regards,
Heiner Wedemeyer
Learn more about Prof. Dr. med. Michael Manns
Session topics at a glance
Thursday, June 25, 2026:
- Session 1: Cirrhosis and Metabolic Liver Diseases
- Session 2: Autoimmune Liver Diseases
- Session 3: Hepatobiliary Malignancies
- CiiM Session: Personalized Infection Medicine
Friday, June 26, 2026:
- Session 4: Viral Hepatitis I
- Session 5: Viral Hepatitis II
- Session 6: Liver Transplantation
Program Download
Program – Thursday, June 25, 2026
- 10:00 a.m.
Arrival / Registration - 10:30–11:00 a.m.
Opening Session
Chair: Heiner Wedemeyer
Welcome Remarks
Denise Hilfiker-Kleiner, President of Hannover Medical School (MHH)
Anna Lleo, Vice Secretary of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL)
Lillian Lou, President of the John C. Martin Foundation, Palo Alto
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Scientific Session 1
Cirrhosis and Metabolic Liver Diseases
Chairs: Rafael Esteban, Barcelona; Christian Trépo, Lyon
- Metabolic Liver Diseases and Nutrition
Frank Tacke, Berlin; Katharina Hupa-Breier, Hanover
Discussion Experts: Marina Berenguer, Valencia; Thomas Berg, Leipzig - Cirrhosis
Paolo Angeli, Padua; Benjamin Maasoumy, Hanover
Discussion Expert: Thomas Reiberger, Vienna - Fibrosis & Novel Therapeutic Concepts
Amar Sharma, Hanover; Simon Krooss, Hanover
Discussion Experts: Laurent Castera, Paris; Nikolai Naoumov, London
Join us for a lunch break with light snacks and refreshments at the gallery in front of the lecture hall.
1:45–3:30 p.m. | Scientific Session 2
Autoimmune Liver Diseases
Chairs: Guido Gerken, Essen; Dietrich Hüppe, Herne
- Autoimmune Hepatitis
John Vierling, Houston; Bastian Engel, Hanover - PBC
Ulrich Beuers, Amsterdam; Heike Bantel, Hanover - PSC
Michael Trauner, Vienna; Kristina Ringe, Hanover - Discussion: Open Issues in Autoimmune Liver Diseases
Anna Lleo, Milan; Maria-Carlota Londoño, Barcelona
Coffee, refreshments, and light snacks at the gallery in front of Lecture Hall A.
4:00–5:45 p.m. | Scientific Session 3
Hepatobiliary Malignancies
Chairs: Nisar Malek, Tübingen; Peter Schirmacher, Heidelberg
- Immunology and Cancer
Tim Greten, Bethesda; Bernd Heinrich, Hanover - Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Jessica Zucman-Rossi, Paris; Thomas Wirth, Hanover - Cholangiocellular Carcinoma
Arndt Vogel, Toronto & Hanover; Anna Saborowski, Hanover - Discussion: Open Issues in Hepatobiliary Malignancies
Massimo Colombo, Milan; Mathias Heikenwälder, Tübingen;
Percy Knolle, Munich; Mario Mondelli, Pavia
Wrap-up of Sessions 1–3.
Reception & Dinner at TWINCORE (within walking distance of the MHH lecture hall building).
Weather permitting, we will enjoy the evening in the outdoor area.
7:30–8:15 p.m. | CiiM Session
Personalized Infection Medicine
Chair: Jennifer Debarry
- Special Talk: New Concepts in Personalized Infection Medicine
Markus Cornberg, Hanover
Discussion Experts: Ralf Clemens, Lisbon; Michael Houghton, Edmonton; Ulrich Kalinke, Hanover;
Yang Li, Hanover; Stefan Meuer, Heidelberg; Otmar Wiestler, Berlin
Program – Friday, June 26, 2026
8:30–10:00 a.m. | Scientific Session 4
Viral Hepatitis I
Chairs: Ulrike Protzer, Munich; Robert Thimme, Freiburg
- Hepatitis B
Anna Lok, Ann Arbor; Lisa Sandmann, Hanover
Discussion Experts: Markus Cornberg, Hanover; Harry Janssen, Rotterdam;
Rachel Jeng, Taoyuan - Hepatitis D
Mario Rizzetto, Turin; Helenie Kefalakes, Hanover
Discussion Experts: María Buti, Barcelona; Pietro Lampertico, Milan; Cihan Yurdaydin, Istanbul
Coffee, refreshments, and light snacks at the gallery in front of Lecture Hall A.
10:30–11:45 a.m. | Scientific Session 5
Autoimmune Liver Diseases
Chairs: Christoph Sarrazin, Wiesbaden; Stefan Zeuzem, Frankfurt
- Hepatitis A + E
Daniel Shouval, Jerusalem; Katja Dinkelborg, Hanover
Discussion Experts: Patrick Behrendt, Hanover; Christian Trépo, Lyon - Hepatitis C
Jean-Michel Pawlotsky, Paris; Heiner Wedemeyer, Hanover
Discussion Experts: Ralf Bartenschlager, Heidelberg; Rafael Esteban, Barcelona;
Michael Houghton, Edmonton; Thomas Pietschmann, Hanover
11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Scientific Session 6
Liver Transplantation
Chairs: Hartmut Schmidt, Essen
- Liver Transplantation
Patrizia Burra, Padua; Richard Taubert, Hanover
Discussion Experts: Elmar Jäckel, Toronto; Didier Samuel, Paris;
Moritz Schmelzle, Hanover; Stefan Schneeberger, Innsbruck
The 22nd HepNet Symposium will follow this event in Lecture Hall D (same building), organized by the German Liver Foundation.
The HepNet symposium will be conducted in German. Additional details regarding the program and registration can be found here:
https://www.deutsche-leberstiftung.de/hepnet-symposium/22-hepnet-symposium-2026/anmeldung/
Please note that there is a fee for the HepNet Symposium.
The 22nd HepNet Symposium will take place in Lecture Hall D (same building), organized by the German Liver Foundation.
The HepNet symposium will be conducted in German. Additional details regarding the program and registration can be found here:
https://www.deutsche-leberstiftung.de/hepnet-symposium/22-hepnet-symposium-2026/anmeldung/
Please note that there is a fee for the HepNet Symposium.
Final Information and Registration
The venue of the conference is Hannover Medical School,
Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover
Building J1, Lecture Hall F
The various locations related to this event are all situated near Lecture Hall F and are within easy walking distance.
This symposium is free of charge. Registration is only available online.
You will receive an automatic confirmation of registration from the conference organizer, the Falk Foundation, via email.
Follow the link to register for the symposium:
FALK FOUNDATION CONGRESS OFFICE
Opening Hours / Registration Desk at the Venue
Thursday, June 25, 2026: 10:00 a.m. – 8:15 p.m.
Friday, June 26, 2026: 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Falk will take photographs during the event. Additionally, the event may be recorded
and broadcast live. By participating, all attendees consent to and agree with the
recording, broadcast, and photo sessions.
- Scientific Organization: Prof . Dr. Heiner Wedemeyer
Dept. of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases, and Endocrinology
Hannover Medical School
Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover (Germany)
- Congress Organization:
Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH – Scientific & Educational Excellence Partner of Falk Foundation e.V.
Leinenweberstr. 5 | 79108 Freiburg i. Br. | Germany
phone: +49 761 1514-400 | F: +49 761 1514-460
Email: germany@falkfoundation.org | www.falkfoundation.org
REGISTER NOW!
You will be redirected to the website of the Falk Foundation e.V.