Conventional biochemical tests used in the investigation and management of liver diseases do not accurately estimate the degree of liver injury. Hence, liver biopsy has been used to assess the amount of necro-inflmmation and scarring within the liver. However, results of liver biopsies are associated with sampling errors, observer variability, and complications. Recently, several serum based panels as well as imaging methods have emerged with a potential to accurately estimate the degree of liver injury, inflammation and fibrosis.

We invite investigators to contribute original research articles or review articles that will capture recent advances made in the field of liver biomarkers. Biomarkers that could be used to quantify a variety of pathogenic mechanisms involved in the development and progression of liver injury (such as steatosis, necro-inflammation, apoptosis and fibrosis), as well as liver regeneration and repair processes are central to this call. We would also be particularly interested in articles that focus on the methodology of biomarker discovery and evaluation, and the application of emerging non-invasive techniques and markers in clinical practice or clinical research. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Methodology
  • Biomarker discovery and translation
  • System biology approach: potential and delivery
  • Biomarker evaluation
• Pathology
  • Noninvasive methods of necroinflammation and apoptosis
  • Noninvasive markers of fibrosis-serum panels
  • Noninvasive assessment of fibrosis-imaging techniques
  • Biomarkers for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
• Emerging modalities
  • Methods of assessing liver function
  • Methods of assessing liver regeneration
  • Breath biomarkers
• Noninvasive evaluation of portal hypertension
• Biomarkers for liver cancer (including cancer spread and survival)
• Liver biomarkers for development of new therapeutics (i.e., biomarkers to predict human liver toxicity and drug-induced liver injury)
• Use of biomarkers in clinical trials
• Use of biomarkers in clinical trials
• Noninvasive markers to evaluate effects of intervention

Articles published in this special issue will not be subject to the journal's Article Processing Charges.

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijhep/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/ according to the following timetable: