Illinois State Resource Center
Our Mission
ALF promotes education, advocacy, support services and research for the prevention, treatment and cure of liver disease. ALF Great Lakes provides a wide variety of these services including information and referral, education programs, support groups, exciting fundraising events, and an array of volunteer opportunities.
For help with issues related to liver disease, please contact our Help Center by using the Live Chat feature at the bottom of your browser window or call us at (800) 465-4837 Monday through Friday 9 am to 5 pm Eastern Time or by email at info@liverfoundation.org.
COVID-19
Illinois Department of Public Health
Liver Screenings
Hepatitis C Screenings
Interested in free hepatitis C screenings in an area near you? Here are upcoming dates and locations of hepatitis C screenings in the area! Know your status!
Learn more about testing and resources in your area with this CDC database of free screenings by zip code. Click here.
Weekly Testing by M.A.D.E (Making a Daily Effort)
Mondays, 9am – 2pm
- 8000 S. Cottage Grove
Tuesdays, 9am – 2pm
- 5343 S. Western
Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9am – 2pm
- 5959 S Ashland
Weekly Testing by BHC (Brothers Health Collective)
Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, 10 am – 2pm
- Matthew House Chicago, 3722 S Indiana Ave
4th Fridays of the month, 10 am – 2 pm
- Chicago Women’s AIDS Project 6363, N Broadway St
Saturdays, 9 am – 3 pm
- 2517 S Archer Ave
The Night Ministry
The Night Ministry Mobile Screening Van (Note: the Night Ministry only serves 1. Those experiencing homelessness or unstable housing, 2. MSM of color)
Sunday
- Humboldt Park (Division & California) 4:00 – 6:00 pm
- Uptown (Wilson & Hazel) 6:30 -8:30 pm
Monday
- South Shore (Jeffery & 71st) 7:00 – 9:00 pm
- Pilsen (Cermak & Loomis) 9:30 – 11:30 pm
Tuesday
- Back of the Yards (54th & Halsted) 7:00 – 9:00 pm
- Humboldt Park (Division & California) 9:30 – 11:30 pm
Wednesday
- South Shore (Jeffery & 71st) 7:00 – 9:00 pm
- Uptown (Wilson & Hazel) 9:45 -11:45 pm
Thursday
- Back of the Yards (54th & Halsted) 7:00 – 9:00 pm
- Pilsen (Cermak & Loomis) 9:30 – 11:30 pm
Support Groups
Support groups provide a place for individuals affected by a similar condition or circumstance to provide and receive support and share their experiences.
Not all support groups are facilitated by a medical professional. Some support groups are facilitated by 3rd party organizations and individuals in this region.
ALF also has identified virtual online support groups you can take advantage of by visiting this page.
Arlington Heights
Northwest Community Healthcare
Center for Specialty Medicine, LCI
Mallard Room
800 West Central Road
Arlington Heights, IL
Hep C outreach is a support group for people and/or family and friends of people with Hepatitis C. The group can provide emotional support and share information about the disease with people who have or have had Hepatitis C.
Meets: First Monday of each month, 7:00 – 9:00 PM
Phone: 847-253-8866
Email: deb72157@comcast.net
Contact Debra Panarese for more information.
Cambridge
Alpha-1 Foundation Support Group – Open Arms Alpha-1 Support Group
Alpha-1 Foundation has over 80 Support Groups Nationwide for Liver and Lung affected Alphas. Please call for more information, including dates and times for support groups or please check www.alpha1.org.
Contact
Jackie English and Deb Burwell (Support Group Leaders)
For more information
https://www.alpha1.org/alphas-friends-family/support/sg/
Phone
309-714-9427
309-863-0888
Email
jackieenglish@live.com
openarmsforalpha1@gmail.com
Chicago
Andersonville Support Group
First Evangelical Church
5255 North Ashland Avenue
Chicago, IL
Meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. Please visit the website above for more information.
Meets: 7:00PM
Contact Terry Enright for more information.
Liver Support Group at Rush University Medical Center
937 North Atrium Classroom
1653 West Congress Pkwy
Chicago, IL
This support group is for patients and their families who are waiting or recovering from liver transplant at Rush. The support group shares stories with one another and is facilitated by a chaplain and social worker. Call Carla Albergo, LSW, (312) 563-4223, with any questions.
Meets: Thursdays 3pm
New Hepatitis C Support Group Hosted by the University of Chicago and ALF
Crown Plaza Hotel
160 East Huron
University of Chicago Clinic
9th floor
Chicago, IL 60611
Meets: January 10, 2013
Phone: 312-377-9030
Email: jdominguez@liverfoundation.org
Contact Jacqueline Dominguez (American Liver Foundation) for more information.
Transplant Support Group
47 W Polk Street
Suite 100-140
Chicago, IL
Phone: 800-494-4527
East Moline
New Beginnings – A support group for individuals living with liver disease
Phone: 309-792-1485
Contact Martin Schmidt for more information.
McHenry
Transplant Support Group of Northern Illinois
Northern Illinois Medical Center
4201 Medical Center Drive
McHenry, IL 60050
Phone: 815-477-9528
Naperville
Organ Transplant Support, Inc.
PO Box 471
Naperville, IL 60566
Contact: Carol Olash, President
Phone: 630-527-8640
Email: organtransplantsupport@gmail.com
Website: organtransplantsupport.org
Springfield
Central Illinois Transplant Support Group
4001 Sandhill Road, #124
Springfield, IL 62702
Phone: 217-899-8036
Hepatitis C Teleconferences on Tuesday nights
Listen to speakers discuss various hepatitis C related topics, followed by a question and answer session, and time to “chat.” Teleconference is free and confidential.
Meets: Tuesday from 7pm to 9pm CST
Winfield
Support Group
Central DuPage Hospital
25 North Winfield Road
Winfield, IL
Provides support for individuals and their family members who have experienced liver disease regardless of type or stage.
Meets: First Thursday of each month, 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Phone: 630.399.5709
Email: mth2@att.net
Contact Kelly Hofmann for more information.
Clinical Trials
Find a Clinical Trial anywhere…
Participating in a clinical trial is a great way to contribute to curing, preventing and treating liver disease and its complications. Start your search here to find clinical trials that need people like you.
HCC
STUDY SPONSOR: Glycotest
PI: Laura Kulik, M.D.
COORDINATOR: Kim 312-694-1293 k-sipich@northwestern.edu
STUDY TITLE: Case-Control Study of the Glycotest™ HCC Panel vs AFP for the Detection of Early-stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma
| INCLUSION (Controls): | INCLUSION (Cases): |
| Cirrhosis (Childs Pugh A-B8) No evidence of HCC on imaging | Treatment naïve HCCLI-RADS LR-5 or OPTN 5 CT or MRI criteria (all lesions must exhibit arterial phase hyper-enhancement), or histologic evidence |
Alcoholic Hepatitis
PI: Dr. Maddur
COORDINATOR: Jeanne, phone 312-694-0264, j-gottstein@northwestern.edu
STUDY TITLE: Liver Transplantation for Severe Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to assess the outcomes of liver transplantation in selected patients with severe acute alcoholic hepatitis that is refractory to medical therapy.
| INCLUSION: | EXCLUSION: |
| Patients who present with their first episode of alcoholic hepatitis as the first manifestation of liver disease Age ≥18 years Patients with a Maddrey Discriminant Function of > 32 | Medical or surgical contraindication to liver transplantation Patients with a history of other alcohol related illnesses prior to presentation including alcohol induced pancreatitis and alcohol withdrawal. Concomitant pathologies (i.e alpha 1 antitrypsin disease, Hepatitis B, C, PBC, PSC, AIH, Wilsons, HIV detectable |
STUDY SPONSOR: DURECT
PI: Dr. Flamm
COORDINATOR: Kim, phone 312-694-1293, k-sipich@northwestern.edu
STUDY TITLE: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Phase 2b study to Evaluate Safety and Efficacy of DUR-928 in Subjects with Alcoholic Hepatitis
OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the safety and efficacy, as determined by 90-day mortality, of DUR-928 in subjects with alcoholic hepatitis (AH) with pre-treatment Maddrey’s DF score ≥ 32 and MELD scores 21-30
| INCLUSION: | EXCLUSION: |
| Currently hospitalized Onset of jaundice within prior 8 weeks(MELD) score: 21-30 Patients with a Maddrey Discriminant Function of > 32 | Active Infection Alcohol withdrawal symptoms AKI or Hepatorenal Syndrome |
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC)
STUDY SPONSOR: Gilead
PI: Dr. Flamm
COORDINATOR: Jeanne, phone 312-694-0264, j-gottstein@northwestern.edu
STUDY TITLE: A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study Evaluating the Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of GS-9674 in Non-Cirrhotic Subjects with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
MOA: GS-9674 is a potent Farnesoid X (FXR) agonist. FXR receptor is a master regulator of bile acid homeostasis, controls inflammatory, glucose, and lipid metabolic pathways, and is prevalent in metabolically active tissues, liver, kidney, and intestine.
| INCLUSION: | EXCLUSION: |
| Definite PSC diagnosis Age 18-70 years Liver biopsy within 6 months showing F0-F3 Diagnosis of large duct PSC based on cholangiogram (MRCP, ERCP, or PTC) | History or presence of other concomitant liver diseases Cirrhosis Liver transplant Presence of a percutaneous drain or biliary stent |
Cirrhosis
PI: Dr. Levitsky; Sub-I: Dr. Mazumder
COORDINATOR: Cynthia Padilla, 312-926-4260, cynthia.padilla@northwestern.edu
STUDY TITLE: Non-invasive Assessment of Cardiac Filling Pressures via Valsalva Response as Measured by Finger Photoplethysmography in Cirrhosis
OBJECTIVE 1 (validation of device against gold standard): We hypothesize that the PAR measured by PPG will be correlated with invasive measures of cardiac filling pressures after adjustment for appropriate demographic, serologic, and echocardiographic covariates.
OBJECTIVE 2 (prediction of invasive measures of cardiac filling pressures with multivariable model building): We hypothesize clinically significant cardiac filling pressures can be predicted via multivariable model building using non-invasively collected covariates in this study.
BLOOD PRESSURE PILOT
PI: Lisa VanWagner
Coordinator: Cynthia Padilla, phone: 312-926-4260, cynthia.padilla@northwestern.edu
Study Title: Pilot study to assess the feasibility and clinical utility of home and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in liver transplant recipients
Objectives:
- To define the true burden of hypertension in liver transplant recipients (LTRs) using well measured blood pressure (BP) techniques, including seated in-office BP, home BP monitoring (HBPM) and ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). We hypothesize that in office BP measurement underestimates true prevalence of hypertension when BP is assessed by HBPM or ABPM in LTRs.
- To assess the feasibility and tolerability of HBPM versus ABPM in LTRs. We hypothesize that HBPM and ABPM are both feasible in LTRs but that HBPM will be better tolerated by LTRs
Inclusion:
- Age ≥ 18
- Liver transplant recipient
Exclusion:
- Prisoners
- Pregnant women
- Individuals unable to provide consent
- Individuals with dual heart transplants
PORTAL HYPERTENSION
PI: Dr. Lisa VanWagner; Sub-I: Dr. Justin Boike
COORDINATOR: Cynthia Padilla, 312-926-4260, cynthia.padilla@northwestern.edu
STUDY TITLE: Advancing Liver Therapeutic Approaches (ALTA). The ALTA Consortium Study Group for the management of portal hypertension – A 5-year longitudinal observational study of patients with cirrhosis undergoing TIPS placement
Objectives:
To prospectively collect clinical information on the use and outcomes associated with contemporary real-world practice of Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunts (TIPS). The goals of the consortium are to answer key clinical questions related to contemporary patterns of TIPS usage as well as clinical outcomes. This database will serve to inform and answer clinically related questions about the optimization of TIPS use and management.
Study Endpoints:
- Clinical outcomes of TIPS related to the initial indication
- Survival data up to at least 1 year after TIPS placement
- Complications related to underlying liver disease before and after TIPS
Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
Inclusion criteria:
- Subjects over the age of 18 able to provide consent or have a surrogate decision maker provide consent in the event the subject is unable to consent due to a transient clinical condition.
Exclusion criteria:
- Minors under the age of 18 at the time of enrollment
- Subjects undergoing TIPS placement as part of an investigational study outside of usual clinical care
- Subjects unable to provide consent
ALTA Sub-Study – TIPS on Cardiac Function
STUDY SPONSOR: Gore
PI: Lisa VanWagner
COORDINATOR: Cynthia Padilla, phone: 312-926-4260, cynthia.padilla@northwestern.edu
STUDY TITLE: Impact of Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunting (TIPS) on Cardiac Function in Patients with Portal Hypertension
OBJECTIVES:
- To describe the distribution and patterns of echocardiogram-derived indices of cardiac mechanics (e.g., strain measures) and circulating cardiac biomarkers (e.g., hs-troponin and NT-pro BNP) following TIPS.
- To describe change over time in echo-derived markers of cardiac mechanics and circulating cardiac biomarkers following TIPS.
- To identify patterns of cardiac mechanics and circulating cardiac biomarkers among TIPS recipients that are associate
INCLUSION:
- Consented for the ALTA study
- Able to consent or has a legally authorized representative to provide consent
EXCLUSION:
- Undergoing TIPS placement as part of an investigational study outside of usual clinical care
Hepquant Substudy – TIPS on Hepatic Encephalopathy
PI: Justin Boike
COORDINATOR: Jeanne Gottstein, phone: 312-694-0264, j-gottstein@northwestern.edu
STUDY TITLE: HepQuant to predict hepatic encephalopathy in patients who receive transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for refractory ascites – a pilot study
OBJECTIVES:
- To determine if a novel blood test, HepQuant® SHUNT Test, can predict patients at risk for developing hepatic encephalopathy after placement of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS).
- To describe the difference in liver blood flow shunting as assessed by HepQuant® SHUNT Test before and after TIPS.
INCLUSION:
- Subjects participating in the ALTA registry (STU00208288)
- Subjects over the age of 18 able to provide consent
- Subjects undergoing initial TIPS procedure for the primary indication of treatment of ascites
EXCLUSION:
- Undergoing TIPS placement as part of an investigational study outside of usual clinical care
NASH
STUDY SPONSOR: VIKING
PI: Dr. Mary Rinella
COORDINATOR: Jeanne Gottstein, phone 312-694-0264, j-gottstein@northwestern.edu
STUDY TITLE: A phase 2b, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of vk2809 administered for 52 weeks followed by a 4-week off-drug phase in subjects with biopsy proven non-alcoholic steatohepatitis with fibrosis.
MOA: VK2809 is being developed for the treatment of NASH. A safe, liver-directed THR-β agonist.
| INCLUSION: | EXCLUSION: |
| Males or females ≥ 18 years old MRI-PDFF fat fraction ≥8% done during screening period Liver biopsy NAS score ≥4, Fibrosis 2-3 | History of significant alcohol consumption Weight change > 5% within 6 months prior to liver biopsy Type 1 diabetes patients History of bariatric surgery or intestinal bypass surgery Patients with decompensated diabetes (HbA1c >9.0%) |
STUDY SPONSOR: Enanta
PI: Dr. Mary Rinella
COORDINATOR: Jeanne Gottstein, phone 312-694-0264, j-gottstein@northwestern.edu
STUDY TITLE: A PHASE 2b RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE BLIND, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED, MULTICENTER STUDY EVALUATING SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF EDP-305 IN SUBJECTS WITH LIVER-BIOPSY PROVEN NON-ALCOHOLIC STEATOHEPATITIS (NASH) (ARGON-2)
MOA: EDP-305 is a farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist being investigated by Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Enanta) as a potential treatment for Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) with liver fibrosis.
| INCLUSION: | EXCLUSION: |
| Males or females ≥ 18 years old (NAS) of 4 or greater with a score of at least 1 in each component of the, fibrosis 2-3 on biopsy | History of significant alcohol consumption MELD >12 Subjects with clinically or otherwise documented cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease including clinically significant anomalies of rhythm or pattern of ECG use of a new fibrate regimen from 3 months prior to Screening Patients with decompensated diabetes (HbA1c >9.5%) |
STUDY SPONSOR: NGM
PI: Dr. Rinella
COORDINATOR: Jeanne 312-694-0264 or Kim 312-694-1293, j-gottstein@northwestern.edu, k-sipich@northwestern.edu
STUDY TITLE: Evaluation of Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of NGM282 (Aldafermin) in a Phase 2b, Randomized, Doubleblind, Placebo-controlled, Multi-center Study in Subjects with Compensated Cirrhosis Due to Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (ALPINE 4)
MOA: By engaging both FGFR4 and FGFR1c pathways to reduce bile acid toxicity and lipotoxicity, and to improve insulin sensitivity, NGM282 has demonstrated robust anti-steatotic, anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic activities in multiple animal models of NASH
| INCLUSION: | EXCLUSION: |
| Adults from 18 to 75 years Total liver fat ≥ 8%, MRI-PDFF Liver biopsy NAS score ≥4, Cirrhosis Statin use based on the following criteria for statin-naïve or statin-experienced at Screening: Statin naïve is defined as no statins within 3 months prior to Screening. Statin Experienced is defined as administration of < 50% of the maximal dose of current statin therapy | Clinically significant acute or chronic liver disease of an etiology other than NASH MELD score > 12 No evidence of varices on EGD Type 1 diabetes patients.Any contraindication or inability to obtain an MRI |
STUDY SPONSOR: MADRIGAL 11
PI: Dr. Mary Rinella
COORDINATOR: Kim Sipich, phone 312-694-1293, k-sipich@northwestern.edu
STUDY TITLE: A Phase 3, Multinational, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study of MGL-3196 (resmetirom) in Patients With Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) and Fibrosis to Resolve NASH and Reduce Progression to Cirrhosis and/or Hepatic Decompensation
MOA: MGL-3196 is being developed for the treatment of NASH and for potential use in hypercholesterolemia/dyslipidemia. A safe, liver-directed THR-β agonist.
| INCLUSION: | EXCLUSION: |
| Males or females ≥ 18 years old MRI-PDFF fat fraction ≥8% done during screening period Liver biopsy NAS score ≥4, Fibrosis 2-3 Estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) ≥45 | History of significant alcohol consumption. Regular use of drugs historically associated with NAFLD, which include, but are not limited, to the following: amiodarone, methotrexate, systemic glucocorticoids, tetracyclines, tamoxifen, estrogens, anabolic steroids, valproic acid. Type 1 diabetes patients History of bariatric surgery or intestinal bypass surgery Patients with decompensated diabetes (HbA1c >9.0%) |
STUDY SPONSOR: MADRIGAL 14
PI: Dr. Mary Rinella
COORDINATOR: Kim Sipich, phone 312-694-1293, k-sipich@northwestern.edu
STUDY TITLE: A 52-Week, Phase 3 Study to Evaluate Safety and Biomarkers of Resmetirom (MGL-3196) in Patients with
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) (MAESTRO-NAFLD-1)
MOA: MGL-3196 is being developed for the treatment of NASH and for potential use in hypercholesterolemia/dyslipidemia. A safe, liver-directed THR-β agonist.
| INCLUSION: | EXCLUSION: |
| Males or females ≥ 18 years old MRI-PDFF fat fraction ≥8% done during screening period Liver biopsy NAS ≥4, steatosis ≥1, fibrosis stage 0 or 1A/1C with PRO-C3 <14 NAS <4 steatosis ≥1, with fibrosis stage ≤3 NAS ≥4, steatosis ≥1, fibrosis stage ≤3 without ballooning | History of significant alcohol consumption Regular use of drugs historically associated with NAFLD, which include, but are not limited, to the following: amiodarone, methotrexate, systemic glucocorticoids, tetracyclines, tamoxifen, estrogens, anabolic steroids, valproic acid Type 1 diabetes patients History of bariatric surgery or intestinal bypass surgery Patients with decompensated diabetes (HbA1c >9.0%) |
STUDY SPONSOR: Galmed
PI: Dr. Mary Rinella
COORDINATOR: Jeanne Gottstein, phone 312-694-0264, j-gottstein@northwestern.edu
STUDY TITLE: A Phase 3, Multinational, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Aramchol in Subjects with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) with Open-Label Part to Evaluate the Safety, PK and Treatment Response Kinetics of Aramchol
MOA: Aramchol is the first in a new pharmacological class of fatty acid-bile acid conjugates (FABACs).
| INCLUSION: | EXCLUSION: |
| Males or females ≥ 18 years old MRI-PDFF fat fraction ≥8% done during screening period Liver biopsy NAS ≥4, steatosis ≥1, fibrosis stage 0 or 1A/1C with PRO-C3 <14 NAS <4 steatosis ≥1, with fibrosis stage ≤3 NAS ≥4, steatosis ≥1, fibrosis stage ≤3 without ballooning | History of significant alcohol consumption Type 1 diabetes patients History of bariatric surgery or intestinal bypass surgery Patients with decompensated diabetes (HbA1c >9.0%) |
Simvastatin in Preventing Liver Cancer in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis
Northwestern University
This study will test the effects of simvastatin in people with liver cirrhosis. Participants in this study will get either simvastatin or placebo, a pill that looks like the study drug but contains no medication. This will allow researchers to see if participants taking simvastatin show changes in their liver, which may indicate a lower risk of developing cancer. This study is looking for volunteers who are 18 years of age or older and have liver cirrhosis. We will enroll 80 participants.
Contact Kim Sipich at 312-694-1293 to obtain more information.
Related Links
(773) 702-1000
(630) 434-9312
(630) 469-9200
(312) 569-8387
(312) 864-7630
(708) 216-8815
(800) 543-7362
NorthShore University HealthSystem
(888) 364-6400
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
(312) 695-4077
Rockford Gastroenterology Associates
(815) 397-7340
(888) 352-7874
(800) 323-8622
(888) 824-0200
Additional Resources
State of Illinois Department of Insurance
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In addition to the resources listed above in your state or district, ALF provides these resources that are available no matter where you are. Explore them now…
Last updated on October 13th, 2022 at 12:01 pm