Manal F. Abdelmalek

Manal F. Abdelmalek, M.D., is a Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, holding a primary appointment as Senior Associate Consultant in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology within the Department of Internal Medicine. She serves as Director of the Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Clinical Research Program and is recognized as a key opinion leader in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) therapeutics.

Her educational background includes:

• BA/MD from University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
• Residency in Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic
• Fellowship in Gastroenterology & Hepatology at Mayo Clinic
• M.P.H. in Epidemiology from University of Florida

Dr. Abdelmalek's research centers on metabolic liver diseases, specifically metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and MASH. She investigates risk factors for disease progression and develops novel therapeutic approaches including antimetabolic, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic agents such as GLP-1 agonists and PPAR agonists. Her work focuses on repurposing existing medications, preventing fibrosis progression to reduce cirrhosis and liver cancer risks, and developing predictive biomarkers for complications in advanced hepatic fibrosis. She designs and leads NIH-funded, industry-sponsored, and investigator-initiated clinical trials to evaluate emerging therapies.

She holds significant leadership roles:

• Chair, AASLD Global Outreach and Engagement Committee (2022-present)
• Member, Global Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Council (2024-present)
• Steering Committee Member, Chronic Liver Disease Foundation (2023-present)
• Associate Editor, Hepatology (2021-2026)
• Advisor to FDA and pharmaceutical companies on MASH therapeutics

Dr. Abdelmalek's research program addresses the critical global health challenge of metabolic liver diseases—leading causes of death worldwide—by advancing diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic interventions to improve patient outcomes beyond current lifestyle modification approaches.