Islet Biology and Diabetes: Beta Cell Compensation, Failure and Recovery (L5)
March 16-19, 2026
| Beaver Run Conference Center, Breckenridge, CO, United States
Olov Andersson, Barak Blum, Amelia K. Linnemann and Erica Nishimura
Scholarship Deadline: Nov. 19, 2025 | Abstract Deadline: Feb. 25, 2026 | Early Registration Deadline: Jan. 16, 2026
| 12:00–3:00 PM |
CU Anschutz Pre-Conference Workshop: Networking & Communication Skills (separate registration required) Learn more at: https://keysym.us/CUAnschutz26 |
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| 4:00–8:00 PM |
Registration |
3rd Floor Foyer |
| 6:00–8:00 PM |
Welcome Mixer |
3rd Floor Foyer |
| 7:00–8:00 AM |
Breakfast |
Summit Gallery |
| 8:00–8:10 AM |
Welcome Remarks (Joint) |
Colorado Ballroom |
| 8:10–9:00 AM |
Keynote Address (Joint) |
Colorado Ballroom |
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* Jonathan Campbell, Duke University
Session Chair |
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Daniel J. Drucker, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute
Incretins all Over the Place |
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| 9:00–11:30 AM |
Future Therapeutics for Diabetes and Obesity (Joint) |
Colorado Ballroom |
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* Jonathan Campbell, Duke University
Session Chair |
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Alice E Adriaenssens, AstraZeneca
The Central GIPR Signaling Axis: New Insights, New Questions |
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Lotte B Knudsen, Novo Nordisk A/S
What GLP-1 Did and Did Not Do For People with Diabetes |
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Over Cabrera, Eli Lilly and Company
Islet Architecture Remodeling Links α Cell Repositioning and β Cell ALDOB Expression to Progressive Hyperglycemia |
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Mark Esposito, Kayothera INC
Short Talk: KAYO-1732, A 1st-In-Class Oral ALDH1a3 Inhibitor, Blocks Retinoid Nuclear Receptor Signaling To Regenerate Pancreatic β Cells And Reverse Type 2 Diabetes |
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Jenny M Brown, University of Copenhagen
Short Talk: A Novel Gut-brain Circuit Controlling Energy Balance through the Neurokinin 2 Receptor |
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| 9:30–9:50 AM |
Coffee Break |
3rd Floor Foyer |
| 11:30–12:30 PM |
Meet the Editors (Joint) |
Colorado Ballroom |
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Olov Andersson, Karolinska Institutet and Uppsala University
*Session Moderator |
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Eric Sawey, Genes & Development
Executive Editor |
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Francesca La Rosa, Springer Nature Group
Senior Editor, Nature Communications |
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Beste Mutlu, Cell Press
Scientific Editor, Cell Metabolism |
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Jessica Houtz, Cell Press
Scientific Editor, Cell Reports |
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Lauren Malave, Springer Nature
Associate Editor, Communications Medicine |
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| 12:30–1:00 PM |
Poster Setup |
Peak 1-3 |
| 12:30–2:00 PM |
On Own for Lunch |
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| 1:00–10:00 PM |
Poster Viewing |
Peak 1-3 |
| 2:30–4:30 PM |
Symposia Spotlight 1: Emerging Technologies and Experimental Systems |
Colorado Ballroom |
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* Katie C Coate, Vanderbilt University
Session Chair |
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Jace Aloway, CU Anschutz
Mapping m6A Modifications during Pancreas Development using Direct RNA Sequencing |
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Camila Lubaczeuski, Fractyl Health
Single-Dose Beta-Cell-Restricted Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Gene Therapy Durably Improves Beta-Cell Function and Glycemic Control with Low Systemic Exposure |
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Christopher Emfinger, University of Kentucky
Defining Dependencies Between Key Proteins Regulating Islet Function |
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Zipeng Alex Li, Washington University School of Medicine
Leveraging Base-editing to Treat Wolfram Syndrome: A Monogenic Model of Diabetes, Neurodegeneration, and Optic Atrophy |
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Olga Babosova, CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences
Identification and Validation of Novel ARX Degraders |
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Ali H Shilleh, University of Oxford
The Circulating Albuminoid Protein GC-globulin is an Allosteric Regulator of GLP-1 Receptor Signaling |
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Yasunori Aizawa, Institute of Science Tokyo
Engineering Hypoimmunogenic and Functionally Enhanced iPSC-Derived β Cells Using a High-Precision Genome Writing Platform: Geno-Writing™ |
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Dan Hesselson, Centenary Institute
Building Resilient Beta Cells by Directed Evolution of PDX1 |
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| 4:30–5:00 PM |
Coffee Available |
3rd Floor Foyer |
| 5:00–7:00 PM |
Development, Stem Cells & Regeneration of beta Cells |
Colorado Ballroom |
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* Guy Rutter, CRCHUM / University of Montreal
Session Chair |
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Heiko Lickert, Institute of Diabetes and Regeneration
Formation of Functional beta Cells from Progenitors |
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Olov Andersson, Karolinska Institutet and Uppsala University
Beta Cell Differentiation and Regeneration in Zebrafish |
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Francesca M Spagnoli, King’s College London
Genetics/Genomics of beta Cell Development and Regeneration |
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Alexey Epanchintsev, Novo Nordisk Research Centre Oxford
Short Talk: Genome-wide Knockout CRISPR Screen Identifies PRKAR1A that Prevents Dedifferentiation and Enhances Beta Cell Functionality Under Glucolipotoxic Pressure |
|
| 7:00–7:20 PM |
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration |
Colorado Ballroom |
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Maureen A Gannon, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration: Irish Song and Dance |
|
| 7:20–8:00 PM |
Social Hour with Dinner |
Summit Gallery |
| 7:30–10:00 PM |
Poster Session 1 |
Peak 1-3 |
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
| 7:00–8:00 AM |
Breakfast |
Summit Gallery |
| 7:05–8:00 AM |
Women in Science Networking Event, Sponsored by Amgen, Co-Organized by WIELD |
Imperial Ballroom |
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* Darleen A. Sandoval, University of Colorado
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* Amelia K. Linnemann, Indiana University School of Medicine
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Lori Sussel, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
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Maureen A Gannon, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
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Melanie M Kaelberer, Duke University
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Jing Hughes, Yale University
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Erica Nishimura, Novo Nordisk A/S
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Nikki L Farnsworth, Colorado School of Mines
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Alice E Adriaenssens, AstraZeneca
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Linda Rinaman, Florida State University
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Sarah Stanley, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
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Alexandra Rippa, Diabetes Institute, University of Florida
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|
| 8:00–11:00 AM |
Inter-Organ Communication (Joint) |
Colorado Ballroom |
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* Maureen A Gannon, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Session Chair |
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Madina Sokolov, University of Miami
Peripheral Innervation in Energy Metabolism |
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Sarah Stanley, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
CNS Control of Blood Glucose |
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Hideki Katagiri, Tohoku University
Neural Regulation and Manipulation of Pancreatic Beta Cells |
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Yu Hsuan Carol Yang, University of Exeter Medical School
Role of Islet Innervation in Zebrafish |
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Gabriella C Giese, CU-Boulder
Short Talk: The Gut Story in Type 1 Diabetes: The Influence of Microbial Cues on Beta-Cell Development |
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Angela Kim, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Short Talk: Selective Brain-to-gut Communication via Transcriptionally-defined Vagus-to-enteric Neuron Circuits |
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| 9:00–9:20 AM |
Coffee Break |
3rd Floor Foyer |
| 9:20–9:25 AM |
Award Recipient Acknowledgement |
Colorado Ballroom |
| 11:00–1:00 PM |
Poster Setup |
Peak 1-3 |
| 11:00–5:00 PM |
On Own for Lunch |
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| 1:00–10:00 PM |
Poster Viewing |
Peak 1-3 |
| 1:30–3:15 PM |
Symposia Spotlight 2: Late-Breaking Research |
Colorado Ballroom |
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* Marcela Brissova, Vanderbilt University
Session Chair |
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Jacob Enriquez, University of Chicago
Messenger RNA Delivery to Islet β-cells using Functionalized Lipid Nanoparticles |
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Mohammad Ovais Azizzanjani, Stanford University
Metabolic STAMP for Deciphering Mechanisms by which GPCRs Regulate Pancreatic β-cell Insulin Secretion |
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Nirmala V Balasenthilkumaran, University of California, San Diego
How do α-cells Influence β-cell Function, and the Polarity of T-cell Infiltration during Early T1D? |
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Guy Rutter, CRCHUM / University of Montreal
Exploration of Individual Beta Cell Function Over Time In Vivo: Effects of Hyperglycemia and Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor (GLP1R) Agonism |
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Carissa L Birznieks, University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus
The Impact of Pancreatic Beta-Delta-Cell Gap Junction Coupling on Hormone Secretion and Glucose Homeostasis |
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Jonas Ahnfelt-Rønne, Novo Nordisk A/S
A Novel Fully Automated High-Plex Immunofluorescence Workflow for Pancreas Cell-Type Segmentation |
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Kyle R Knofczynski, Mayo Clinic
The Disruption of Unwanted Progenitors in Stem Cell-Derived α and β Cells by Single Cell Dispersion Reinforces Endocrine Cell Identities |
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Aharon Helman, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
From Intrinsic Control to Coordinated Action: A New Model for β-Cell Function and Plasticity |
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| 3:30–4:30 PM |
Career Roundtable (Joint) |
Breckenridge Ballroom |
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Jacob Hecksher-Sørensen, Vibraint (Virtual Brain Technologies)
Co-Founder & CEO |
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Cruz Hinojos, Sable Systems
Executive Director |
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Jay Tinklepaugh, Breakthrough T1D
Senior Scientist |
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Jessica Houtz, Cell Press
Scientific Editor |
|
| 4:30–5:00 PM |
Coffee Available |
3rd Floor Foyer |
| 5:00–7:00 PM |
Overcoming Beta Cell Stress: A Roadmap to Resilience and Recovery |
Colorado Ballroom |
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* Jing Hughes, Yale University
Session Chair |
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Amelia K. Linnemann, Indiana University School of Medicine
Decoding the Acute Islet Stress Response: Insights into Long-Term Functional Outcomes |
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Peter J Thompson, University of Manitoba
The Dark Side of Resilience: Senescence and Maladaptive Stress in Beta Cells |
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Scott A. Soleimanpour, University of Michigan Medical School
Mitochondrial Quality Control in beta Cells |
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Abigael Cheruiyot, Joslin Diabetes Center/Harvard Medical School
Short Talk: Sustained High Glucose Perturbs mRNA-specific Translation in Pancreatic Beta-cells |
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Sudipta Ashe, UCSF
Short Talk: Forging Diabetes: The Critical Role of Iron-Glutathione Homeostasis in Beta Cell Development and Failure |
|
| 7:00–8:00 PM |
Social Hour with Dinner |
Summit Gallery |
| 7:30–10:00 PM |
Poster Session 2 |
Peak 1-3 |
| 7:00–8:00 AM |
Breakfast |
Summit Gallery |
| 8:00–11:00 AM |
Maturation and Aging of Islet Cells |
Colorado Ballroom |
| |
* Aaron Cox, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Session Chair |
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Barak Blum, University of Wisconsin
Development and Maturation of Islet Cells in Down Syndrome |
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Rafael Arrojo e Drigo, Vanderbilt University
Islet Cell Homeostasis and Longevity |
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Julie B. Sneddon, University California, San Francisco
Harnessing Human Endocrine Progenitor Biology for Enhanced Generation of Beta Cells from Stem Cells |
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Esra Karakose, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Short Talk: Understanding the Mechanisms of Human Beta Cell Replication and Differentiation in Human Insulinomas |
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Jeeyeon Cha, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Short Talk: Genetic Background Influences MAFAS64F-mediated Diabetes Penetrance in Male Mice |
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Michael Schleh, Vanderbilt University
Short Talk: Alpha Cell Inflammation is a Hallmark of Islet Aging that is Reversed by Calorie Restriction |
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Akos Gerencser, Buck Institute for Research on Aging
Short Talk: Mitochondrial Metabolic Alterations in Human Pancreatic β-cells in Type 2 Diabetes and in Aging |
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| 9:00–9:20 AM |
Coffee Break |
3rd Floor Foyer |
| 11:00–1:00 PM |
Poster Setup |
Peak 1-3 |
| 11:00–5:00 PM |
On Own for Lunch |
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| 1:00–2:00 PM |
Perspectives: Personalized Medicine & Patient-Centered Strategies (joint) |
Colorado Ballroom |
| |
* Raghavendra G Mirmira, The University of Chicago
Session Chair |
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Anne Gresch, University of Colorado Denver
Sex-Specific Beta-Cell Heterogeneity and Stress Response in Type 2 Diabetes Development |
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Ha T Vu, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
PanKbase Integrated Single-Cell Map: A Resource for Human Pancreatic Islet and Beta Cell Biology with New Insights into Diabetes |
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Alexander Ticho, Mayo Clinic
Obesity Subphenotyping Cluster with Reduced GLP-1 and Fast Gastric Emptying Predicts Weight Loss Response to Tirzepatide |
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Hailey F Welch, University of Texas at Dallas
A Molecular Basis for Right-Left Asymmetry in Gut-Brain Signaling |
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| 1:05–10:00 PM |
Poster Viewing |
Peak 1-3 |
| 2:30–4:30 PM |
Symposia Spotlight 3: Human Islet Biology: Translating Discovery into Innovation (joint with HIRN) |
Colorado Ballroom |
| |
* Erica Nishimura, Novo Nordisk A/S
Session Chair |
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Raghavendra G Mirmira, The University of Chicago
Full Talk: Human Islet Vulnerability in Type 1 Diabetes: Insights from Network Science |
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Jordan J Wright, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Multimodal Analysis of Data from the Human Pancreas Analysis Program Reveals Heterogeneity in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes |
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Austin Stis, University of Florida
GABA Biosensing Cell Array Reveals Temporal GABA Secretion Dynamics from Beta Cells |
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Sam Preza, University of Pennsylvania
DEC1 Regulates Human β Cell Functional Maturation and Circadian Rhythm |
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Isabella Altilio, University of Miami
Spatial Transcriptomic Analysis of Ductal Remodeling in Pancreatic Samples from Type 1 Diabetic, Autoantibody-positive, and Non-diabetic Donors |
|
| 4:30–5:00 PM |
Coffee Available |
3rd Floor Foyer |
| 5:00–6:45 PM |
Genomics & DNA/RNA Modifications in Diabetes |
Colorado Ballroom |
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* Matthew Wortham, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Session Chair |
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J. A Pospisilik, Van Andel Institute
Machine Learning and Epigenomic Decomposition of Disease (and beta-cell) Heterogeneity |
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Rohit N Kulkarni, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School
RNA Biology and beta Cell Preservation |
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Lori Sussel, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
RNA Processing in the Pancreatic Islet |
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Ailsa MacCalman, University of Exeter
Short Talk: Epitranscriptomic Regulation of the Developing Human Pancreas |
|
| 6:45–7:00 PM |
Meeting Wrap-Up: Outcomes and Future Directions |
Colorado Ballroom |
| 7:00–8:00 PM |
Social Hour with Dinner |
Summit Gallery |
| 7:30–10:00 PM |
Poster Session 3 |
Peak 1-3 |
