An integrated gene-to-patient Data Commons for MASLD Research What is SteatoSITE? A Scotland-based, fully-curated, REC-approved Metabolic dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) data commons accessible by application to researchers from academia or industry from anywhere in the world. About us Based in Scotland, the SteatoSITE Data Commons has been constructed to provide curated data that allows researchers to more fully understand disease progression in MASLD and develop or validate new tests and treatments for people with Metabolic dysfunction-Associated SteatoHepatitis (MASH), the progressive form of MASLD. A Data Commons brings together data, storage, and a computional environment. It is a widely used model for analysing and sharing data to create a resource for a broad range of users including the research community, industry, and clinicians – and potentially patients and charities too. As more health data is added, our MASLD Data Commons will evolve into a smarter, more comprehensive knowledge system that will be used to make new discoveries to understand and treat this disease better. It will help us to develop and validate new tests for MASH, and to identify which patients will get the most benefit from new therapies. Our team Meet the SteatoSITE team Researchers Information on research processes and results Apply for access Apply for access to the SteatoSITE resource and get in touch with our team Impact Updates and achievements from the SteatoSITE team What is MASLD? MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease) is now the most common liver condition worldwide, affecting nearly 4 in 10 people. It occurs when fat builds up in the liver due to health issues like obesity or diabetes - not alcohol. Most people with MASLD won’t get seriously ill, but around 1 in 5 develop a more severe form called MASH (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis). This can lead to liver scarring, liver cancer, and even early death. Currently, there’s no reliable way to tell who will get worse, and only one approved medicine for MASH exists - Rezdiffra (resmetirom) - but it’s only available in the United States. That’s why research is focused on understanding why the disease progresses in some people but not others. This could lead to better tests to find those most at risk and guide healthcare more effectively. In the long term, it could also help develop new treatments tailored to each patient - what’s known as personalised medicine. How will we help? To address this, we have included a large group (n=940) of MASLD cases from across Scotland, using stored liver tissue samples and collecting existing information from the routine electronic patient records about: the sort of liver damage that can develop in MASLD livers; which genes are present in the liver as MASLD gets more severe; and how this relates to various health outcomes in people with MASLD. We will keep this anonymised information in a secure database and allow analysis of it using bioinformatics (an approach that uses computer science to understand biological data) within a bespoke trusted research environment (TRE) in order to transform the care of people with MASLD. Our project partners and funders Original SteatoSITE consortium partners: Eagle Genomics, The University of Edinburgh, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, University of Glasgow (data host - Precision Medicine Scotland Innovation Centre) Initial funding: Innovate UK - Precision medicine: impacting through innovative technology (Ref: TS/R017581/1)Current data host: EPCCCurrent funding: Scottish Funding Council This article was published on 2025-05-16
