Yeo Lab

What we study

We examine the epidemiology of alcohol-associated liver disease, mortality trends during the COVID-19 pandemic, alcohol thresholds in metabolic and steatotic liver disease, and psychiatric comorbidities driving poor outcomes in ALD.

Key research questions

What alcohol thresholds worsen steatotic liver disease? How did COVID-19 change ALD mortality? What psychiatric factors predict decompensation after hospital discharge?

Methods

Population-based databases (NHANES, NIS, NAMCS), epidemiological modeling, nationwide cohort studies, and target trial emulation frameworks.

Selected publications

JAMA Netw Open 2022JAMA Netw Open 2023J Intern Med 2022JAMA Netw Open 2025

What we study

We apply machine learning, large language models (ChatGPT, GPT-4), and virtual reality to improve liver disease diagnosis, patient education, multilingual health communication, and clinical decision support.

Key projects

AI-powered cirrhosis Q&A evaluation; multilingual LLM patient communication; VR interventions for ALD; ML prediction of ACLF; multimodal AI for SLD screening (Nature Communications, accepted).

Awards & recognition

AGA Innovation Fellow 2025. Biomedical AI Symposium UCLA 2024. Chapter on VR and mental health in Routledge textbook.

Selected publications

Clin Mol Hepatol 2023Clin Mol Hepatol 2024Clin Mol Hepatol 2025Nat Commun (accepted)

What we study

We investigate HCC surveillance gaps, sarcopenia, portal hypertension management, decompensation risk, hepatic encephalopathy, and the role of non-selective beta-blockers and rifaximin in advanced liver disease.

Key research questions

Who is missed by HCC surveillance? Does carvedilol outperform other NSBBs? How does rifaximin affect antimicrobial resistance? What drives ACLF clustering?

Methods

Systematic review and meta-analysis, target trial emulation, real-world nationwide datasets, multicenter clinical cohorts, and dynamic biomarker modeling (FIB-4).

Selected publications

J Hepatol 2021JAMA Oncol 2023Hepatology 2025Nat Commun (accepted)
Current projects
Active

Multimodal AI for steatotic liver disease screening

Developing and validating a multimodal machine learning model integrating clinical, imaging, and laboratory data for early detection of MASLD and MASH. Accepted in Nature Communications.

AI / MLMASLDNat Commun
Active

LLM evaluation in hepatology clinical practice

Evaluating the accuracy, safety, and readability of large language models (ChatGPT, GPT-4) for answering patient and clinician questions about cirrhosis, HCC, and ALD across multiple languages.

AI / LLMCirrhosisPatient Education
Active

AI bias in mental health support for liver disease

Investigating potential biases in AI-generated mental health support content for patients with alcohol-associated liver disease, including language, cultural, and demographic disparities.

AI / DigitalALDMental Health
Ongoing

Rifaximin and antimicrobial resistance in cirrhosis

Nationwide cohort study examining the impact of long-term rifaximin use on antimicrobial resistance patterns in patients with cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy. Accepted in Nature Communications.

CirrhosisNat CommunHepatic Encephalopathy
Ongoing

Dynamic FIB-4 and HCC risk stratification

Longitudinal analysis of serial FIB-4 measurements as a dynamic predictor of hepatocellular carcinoma risk in patients with chronic liver disease across multiple etiologies.

HCCCirrhosisBiomarkers
Ongoing

Virtual reality for ALD and cirrhosis

Pilot study of immersive virtual reality interventions to improve patient understanding, reduce anxiety, and support shared decision-making in patients with alcohol-associated liver disease and cirrhosis.

AI / DigitalALDPatient Education
Completed projects
Complete

ALD mortality trends during COVID-19

Nationwide analysis of alcohol use disorder-related mortality patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic using death certificate data. Published in JAMA Network Open 2022.

ALDJAMA Netw Open
Complete

HCC surveillance gaps in cirrhosis

Systematic analysis of disparities in hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance uptake among patients with cirrhosis in the United States. Published in Journal of Hepatology 2021.

HCCJ Hepatol
Complete

Carvedilol vs. NSBBs in cirrhosis — target trial emulation

Target trial emulation comparing carvedilol with other non-selective beta-blockers for prevention of decompensation in cirrhosis. Published in Hepatology 2025.

CirrhosisHepatology
Principal investigator
YHY
Dr. Yee Hui Yeo, MD, MSc (Oxford)
Transplant Hepatologist · Physician-Scientist
Liver DiseaseAI & Digital Health CirrhosisClinical Epidemiology ALDHCC

Dr. Yeo is a transplant hepatologist and physician-scientist. He completed his MSc at the University of Oxford and his residency and fellowship training at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He has authored 152 peer-reviewed publications (H-index 44, 10,247 citations), with work published in JAMA, Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Gut, and Journal of Hepatology. He is the recipient of the ACG Junior Faculty Research Award (2026), AGA Innovation Fellow (2025), and AASLD Emerging Liver Scholar designation.

Lab members
Open position
Postdoctoral Fellow
Open position
Research Staff
Open position
Graduate Student
Open position
Clinical Coordinator
Join the lab

We welcome trainees and researchers interested in hepatology, clinical epidemiology, and artificial intelligence. We particularly encourage applicants from underrepresented backgrounds.

Get in touch →
About the program

Metabolic & Alcohol-associated liver disease Program

A multidisciplinary program integrating hepatology, addiction medicine, nutrition, and mental health to deliver comprehensive care for patients with metabolic and alcohol-related liver disease.

Services offered

  • Diagnostic workup for ALD and MASLD
  • Clinical trial enrollment
  • Longitudinal follow-up care
  • Dietitian and addiction medicine referral
  • Mental health integration

Who should be referred

  • Suspected alcohol-associated liver disease
  • Metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)
  • Metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH)
  • Elevated liver enzymes with alcohol history
  • Patients interested in clinical trials

How to refer

Referring physicians may contact us via Epic referral, fax, or email.

Email: yeehui.yeo@cshs.org

Location details will be updated shortly.

The multidisciplinary team

Our team includes transplant hepatologists, addiction medicine specialists, registered dietitians, and mental health professionals working collaboratively around each patient.

Meet the team →
152Publications
10,247Citations
44H-index
34i10-index

Publication highlights

2024
Current and emerging strategies for the prevention of hepatocellular carcinomaHCC
Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology · Yeo YH et al.
2023
Efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with Child-Pugh Class BHCC
JAMA Oncology · Xie E*, Yeo YH* et al.
2023
Assessing the performance of ChatGPT in answering questions regarding cirrhosis and HCCAI / Digital
Clinical & Molecular Hepatology · Yeo YH*, Samaan JS* et al.
2022
Trends in alcohol use disorder-related mortality in the US during the COVID-19 pandemicALD
JAMA Network Open · Yeo YH et al.
2023
Alcohol threshold and risk of liver disease progression in metabolic-associated steatotic liver diseaseALD
JAMA Network Open · Yeo YH et al.
2021
Gaps in surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosisCirrhosis
Journal of Hepatology · Yeo YH et al.
2025
Carvedilol versus other non-selective beta-blockers for prevention of decompensation in cirrhosisCirrhosis
Hepatology · Yeo YH et al.
2024
GPT-4 for multilingual patient communication about cirrhosis: evaluation of accuracy and readabilityAI / Digital
Clinical & Molecular Hepatology · Yeo YH et al.
2023
Prevalence of NAFLD and advanced fibrosis in the US population using database analysesMASLD
Gut · Yeo YH et al.
2025
Machine learning model for prediction of acute-on-chronic liver failureAI / Digital
Clinical & Molecular Hepatology · Yeo YH et al.
2022
Alcohol-associated liver disease mortality in the United StatesALD
Journal of Internal Medicine · Yeo YH et al.
2023
Lean NAFLD: prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes in the United StatesMASLD
Hepatology · Yeo YH et al.

This is a selection. For the complete list of 152 publications:

View all on PubMed →

Content coming soon

Datasets, code repositories, and analysis pipelines will be listed here.

Childhood obesity and fast food food choices Fatty Liver

Who is more likely to get fatty liver disease?

People with obesity, type 2 diabetes, or high blood fats are most at risk. But fatty liver can also affect people who appear slim if they have metabolic problems.

Read more ↗
2026
Award

ACG Junior Faculty Research Award

Dr. Yeo receives the American College of Gastroenterology Junior Faculty Research Award for outstanding contributions to clinical research in hepatology.

2026
Talk

Grand Rounds — Singapore General Hospital & University of Michigan

Invited Grand Rounds presentations on AI implementation in hepatology.

2025
Award

AGA Innovation Fellow 2025

Named an American Gastroenterological Association Innovation Fellow for pioneering work applying AI to liver disease.

2025
Award

Kimberly A. Brown Transplant Hepatology Fellow Award

Honored for excellence in clinical training and research during transplant hepatology fellowship.

2025
Publication

DDW Poster of Distinction

Research recognized with Poster of Distinction at Digestive Disease Week 2025.

2024
Publication

Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology — HCC prevention review

Comprehensive review on current and emerging strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma prevention.

2024
Award

Vinay Sundaram Trainee Research Award

Receives award for outstanding research contributions during fellowship training.

2024
Talk

Biomedical AI Symposium — UCLA 2024

Invited presentation on large language models in hepatology at the UCLA Biomedical AI Symposium.

2024
Award

EASL Top Posters (×2) & AASLD Foundation Abstract Award

Two abstracts named Top Posters at EASL; additionally receives the AASLD Foundation Abstract Award.

Location

Location details will be updated soon.

Join the lab

We welcome applicants interested in hepatology, AI, and clinical epidemiology. Please send your CV and a brief statement of interest to the email above.

Fatty Liver

Who is more likely to get fatty liver disease?

Fatty liver disease — now called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) — affects about 1 in 3 adults worldwide and its prevalence is rising in parallel with the global obesity epidemic. The strongest risk factors are obesity, type 2 diabetes, high triglycerides, high blood pressure, and insulin resistance, which together make up what is called metabolic syndrome. People with obesity have up to a 75% chance of having MASLD. However, fatty liver is not limited to people with excess weight — studies show it affects around 40% of people who are not obese, particularly if they carry extra fat around the abdomen or have a genetic predisposition, such as a variant in the PNPLA3 gene. Men, middle-aged adults, and people of Hispanic or Asian ethnicity are also at higher risk. Diets high in calories, red and processed meats, fructose, and sugary drinks further raise the risk. Because MASLD can progress silently to serious liver inflammation and scarring (cirrhosis) without causing symptoms, early detection through routine blood tests and liver imaging is important — especially for anyone with diabetes, obesity, or high blood fats.

Sources: Younossi ZM et al., Hepatology 2023 · EASL-AASLD Clinical Practice Guidelines 2024 · Riazi K et al., Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology 2022