This Black History Month, American Liver Foundation (ALF) puts the spotlight on Lewis R. Roberts, MB, ChB, PhD, an internationally recognized leader in liver cancer research and gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic, whose groundbreaking work has transformed how we understand, detect, and treat liver and biliary cancers.

A Calling Sparked Early

As a Black physician‑scientist, Dr. Roberts brings personal urgency to his work. Having witnessed several friends or their family members lose their lives to advanced liver cancer caused by hepatitis B, he committed himself early on to understanding why this disease so often leads to more severe outcomes in Black communities. That commitment deepened while attending medical school in Ghana, where dedicated mentors and the tragic cases of young liver cancer patients inspired him to pursue research in the United States. At the University of Iowa’s Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, he trained under Professor Lené Holland, investigating the coordinated regulation of liver gene expression. There, he uncovered pivotal insights into how the liver manages complex gene activity during stress—discoveries that helped ignite the lifelong mission he continues today.

A Voice for Black Communities

Dr. Roberts’ research centers on uncovering how liver cancer develops, from the genetic changes that drive tumor growth to the effects of hepatitis B in populations disproportionately affected by the virus. His lab is advancing early detection through new biomarkers and diagnostic tools that help identify liver cancer at its most treatable stages.

Outside of the laboratory, Dr. Roberts is a tireless advocate for prevention and equity. He emphasizes the importance of:

Education on hepatitis B and C prevention and treatment
Newborn vaccination and maternal care to prevent mother‑to‑child transmission
Community‑centered guidance on nutrition, exercise, diabetes prevention, and alcohol risks
Culturally grounded outreach led by trusted community voices

His leadership extends globally as well. Dr. Roberts is co‑founder of the Africa Institute for Liver and Digestive Disease Foundation (AILDD) and the Africa HepatoPancreatoBiliary Cancer Consortium (AHPBCC)—two organizations dedicated to strengthening research capacity across Africa by training investigators, supporting implementation science, and fostering international collaboration.

Addressing Barriers, Advancing Equity

Liver disease often progresses silently, making early screening essential, especially in communities where structural inequities limit access to timely care. As Dr. Roberts explains, “Black patients are about 10% more likely to die from liver cancer than patients from other racial or ethnic groups, and while genetics may play a small role, most liver cancers caused by viral hepatitis can be prevented through accessible, cost‑effective interventions.” Reducing the burden of liver cancer begins with understanding its root causes and investing in prevention long before disease develops. However, many communities, particularly Black communities, continue to face barriers restricting access to early detection and high‑quality care, including:

Limited awareness of liver cancer risk factors
Gaps in routine screening within primary care
Social and financial obstacles that hinder consistent medical follow‑up

Program such as Think Liver Think Life®, ALF’s national public health campaign, are helping to lessen the burden and remove such barriers by:

Partnering with community health clinics, federally qualified healthcare agencies and other public health agencies to screen at-risk adults for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and liver cancer, in communities across the U.S.
Connecting patients to care
Providing free education and support to patients and families
Helping individuals identify their risk with our free liver health quiz

A Hopeful Future

Despite ongoing challenges, Dr. Roberts remains optimistic for the future saying, “With the recent and ongoing advances in medical research and care, including AI screening techniques and the development of new blood tests measuring proteins, methylated DNA markers, or other biomarkers to provide more sensitive detection of early stage liver cancer, I have a lot of hope that we can make a major impact in reducing illness and death from liver disease in all communities.”

Dr. Roberts’ work, shaped by personal experience, scientific excellence, and a steadfast commitment to health equity, continues to illuminate a path toward earlier detection, better outcomes, and a future where all communities have equitable access to liver health. To learn more about liver cancer or hepatitis B, visit our website.

Help Light the Way