The European Liver Patients’ Association - ELPA - emerged in 2005 from a desire amongst European liver patients’ groups to share their experiences on the different approaches adopted in other countries. Nowadays, ELPA is an umbrella association representing 31 members from 25 different countries. Our vision is that all liver patients are diagnosed in time, are treated with respect, and have equal access to the best standard of medical care – regardless of origin, lifestyle, and type of liver disease. ELPA’s efforts are focused on three main pillars. MEMBER EMPOWERMENT ELPA was established by patients, is governed by patients, and represents patients. We put a lot of effort into organizing training, promoting capacity building, and stimulating networking. We have 8 different working groups aimed at stimulating expert patients to acquire knowledge in a specific field of liver disease. POLICY AND ADVOCACY As an umbrella patients’ association, ELPA acts as an intermediary between all the involved stakeholders - the national patients’ communities, the scientific community, the industry, and the policymakers. We provide a crucial perspective due to our immediate and direct access to the patients’ lives and to the best practices in a national and regional context. ELPA is a member of: -Advisory forum and expert group on HBV and HCV at ECDC. -Patient and Consumer Working Party at EMA. -Policy and public health committee at EASL. -Expert group on HIV, TB, and hepatitis at WHO. -Expert board at VHPB. To better communicate with supporters and stakeholders, ELPA has obtained the ISO 9001:2015 quality standard in 2021, making it the 1st patients’ association in Europe with a quality management system. PARTICIPATION IN MEDICAL RESEARCH PROJECTS ELPA is part of 10 EU-funded medical research projects. The participation of patients’ associations in these projects is relatively new; nevertheless, being part of them enriches the research field.