Between grateful remembrance and ambitious outlook for the future – we honour 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 Medizinische Hochschule Hannover. 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 companion and long-standing colleague will reflect on Michael Manns’ seminal contributions to the field, followed by presentations from a young Hannover-based faculty member 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, 25 June 2026:
- Session 1: Cirrhosis and Metabolic Liver Diseases
- Session 2: Autoimmune Liver Diseases
- Session 3: Hepatobiliary Malignancies
- CiiM Session: Personalized Medicine
Friday, 26 June 2026:
- Session 4: Viral Hepatitis B and D
- Session 5: Viral Hepatitis A, C, E
- Session 6: Liver Transplantation
Program – Thursday, 25 June 2026
- 10.00
Arrival / Registration - 10.30 - 11.00 h
Opening Session
Chair: Heiner Wedemeyer
Welcome Remarks
Denise Hilfiker-Kleiner, Hannover: MHH
Anna Lleo, Milan: EASL
Lilian Lou, Palo Alto: John Martin Foundation
11.00 - 13.00 h | 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, Hannover
Discussion Experts: Marina Berenguer, Valencia; Thomas Berg, Leipzig - Cirrhosis
Paolo Angeli, Padua; Benjamin Maasoumy, Hannover
Discussion Expert: Thomas Reiberger, Vienna - Fibrosis & novel therapeutic concepts
Amar Sharma, Hannover; Simon Krooss, Hannover
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.
13.45 - 15.30 h | Scientific Session 2
Autoimmune Liver Diseases
Chairs: Guido Gerken, Essen; Dietrich Hüppe, Herne
- Autoimmune Hepatitis
John Vierling, Houston; Bastian Engel, Hannover - PBC
Ulrich Beuers, Amsterdam; Heike Bantel, Hannover - PSC
Michael Trauner, Vienna; Kristina Ringe, Hannover
Discussion Experts (AIH, PBC & PSC): Anna Lleo, Milan;
Maria-Carlota Londoño, Barcelona
Coffee, refreshments an light snacks at the gallery in front of the lecture hall A.
16.00 - 17.30 h | Scientific Session 3
Hepatobiliary Malignancies
Chairs: Nisar Malek, Tübingen; Arndt Vogel, Toronto
- Immunology and Cancer
Tim Greten, Bethesda; Bernd Heinrich, Hannover
Discussion Experts: Mathias Heikenwälder, Tübingen;
Percy Knolle, Munich; Mario Mondelli, Pavia - Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Jessica Zucman-Rossi, Paris; Thomas Wirth, Hannover - Cholangiocellular Carcinoma
Arndt Vogel, Toronto; Anna Saborowski, Hannover
Discussion Experts (HCC & CCC): Massimo Colombo, Milan; Peter Schirmacher, Heidelberg
From 18:00 h: Informal gathering at TWINCORE (outdoors in the garden, weather permitting).
Dinner starts at 19:00 h.
19.30 - 20.15 h | CiiM Session
Personalized Medicine
Chair: Jennifer Debarry
- Special Talk: Personalized Infection Medicine
Markus Cornberg, Hannover
Discussion Experts: Ralf Clemens, Lisbon; Michael Houghton, Edmonton; Ulrich Kalinke, Hannover;
Yang Li, Hannover; Stefan Meuer, Heidelberg; Otmar Wiestler, Berlin
Program – Friday, 26 June 2026
08.30 - 10.00 h | Scientific Session 4
Viral Hepatitis I
Chairs: Ulrike Protzer, Munich; Robert Thimme, Freiburg
- Hepatitis B
Anna Lok, Ann Arbor; Lisa Sandmann, Hannover
Discussion Experts: Markus Cornberg, Hannover; Harry Janssen, Rotterdam;
Rachel Jeng, Taoyuan - Hepatitis D
Mario Rizzetto, Turin; Helenie Kefalakes, Hannover
Discussion Experts: María Buti, Barcelona; Pietro Lampertico, Milan; Cihan Yurdaydin, Istanbul
Coffee, refreshments an light snacks at the gallery in front of the lecture hall A.
10.30 - 11.45 h | Scientific Session 5
Autoimmune Liver Diseases
Chairs: Christoph Sarrazin, Wiesbaden; Stefan Zeuzem, Frankfurt
- Hepatitis A + E
Daniel Shouval, Jerusalem; Katja Dinkelborg, Hannover
Discussion Experts: Patrick Behrendt, Hannover; Christian Trépo, Lyon - Hepatitis C
Jean-Michel Pawlotsky, Paris; Heiner Wedemeyer, Hannover
Discussion Experts: Ralf Bartenschlager, Heidelberg; Rafael Esteban, Barcelona;
Michael Houghton, Edmonton; Thomas Pietschmann, Hannover
11.45 - 12.30 h | Scientific Session 6
Liver Transplantation
Chairs: Hartmut Schmidt, Essen
- Liver Transplantation
Patrizia Burra, Padua; Richard Taubert, Hannover
Discussion Experts: Elmar Jäckel, Toronto; Didier Samuel, Paris;
Moritz Schmelzle, Hannover; Stefan Schneeberger, Innsbruck
The 22nd HepNet Symposium will follow this event in leccture hall D (same building), organised by Deutsche Leberstiftung.
The HepNet symposium will be conduced 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 the HepNet Symposium is subject to a fee.
The 22nd HepNet Symposium takes place in leccture hall D (same building), organised by Deutsche Leberstiftung.
The HepNet symposium will be conduced 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 the HepNet Symposium is subject to a fee.
Final Information and Registration
The venue of the conference is Hannover Medical School,
Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover
Building J2, Lecture Hall A
https://maps.app.goo.gl/X6cM75vcJ1cfAHVu8
This Symposium is free of charge. Registration is only possible online.
You will receive an automatic confirmation of registration from the congress organizer Falk Foundation by e-mail.
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 – 20:15 h
Friday, June 26, 2026: 08:00 – 12:30 h
Falk will take pictures during the meeting. Additionally, the meeting might be recorded
and live transmissioned. By participating all attendees consent and agree with the
recording, transmission and the photo shoots.
- 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: Falk Foundation e.V.
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
E-Mail: germany@falkfoundation.org | www.falkfoundation.org
REGISTER NOW !
You will be redirected to the website of the Falk Foundation e.V.