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) |
Breckenridge Ballroom |
| 8:10–9:00 AM |
Keynote Address (Joint) |
Breckenridge Ballroom |
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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) |
Breckenridge Ballroom |
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Alice E Adriaenssens, AstraZeneca
The Central GIPR Signaling Axis: New Insights, New Questions |
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Lotte Bjerre 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-Targeting Therapies |
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Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
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| 9:30–9:50 AM |
Coffee Break |
1st Floor Foyer |
| 11:30–12:30 PM |
Meet the Editors (Joint) |
Breckenridge Ballroom |
| 11:30–1:00 PM |
Poster Setup |
Peak 1-3 |
| 12:30–5:00 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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Short Talks Chosen from Abstracts
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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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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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Sonja Schrepfer, Cedars-Sinai
Hypo-immune Pancreatic Islet Transplantation |
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| 7:00–8:00 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 |
Summit Gallery |
| 8:00–11:00 AM |
Inter-Organ Communication (Joint) |
Breckenridge Ballroom |
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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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Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
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| 9:00–9:20 AM |
Coffee Break |
1st Floor Foyer |
| 9:20–9:25 AM |
Award Recipient Acknowledgement |
Breckenridge 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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Short Talks Chosen from Abstracts
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| 3:30–4:30 PM |
Career Roundtable (Joint) |
Breckenridge Ballroom |
| 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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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, Unviersity of Manitoba
Senescence and non-lethal stress in beta cells: mechanisms and targeting |
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Scott A. Soleimanpour, University of Michigan Medical School
Mitochondrial Quality Control in beta Cells |
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Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
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| 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 |
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Barak Blum, University of Wisconsin
Development and Maturation of Islet Cells |
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Rafael Arrojo e Drigo, Vanderbilt University
Islet Cell Homeostasis and Longevity |
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Hongkui Deng, Peking University
Chemical Reprogramming of Human Somatic Cells & Functional Maturation of Stem Cell-Derived Islets |
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Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
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| 9:00–9:20 AM |
Coffee Break |
3rd Floor Foyer |
| 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) |
Breckenridge Ballroom |
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Short Talks Chosen from Abstracts
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| 2:30–4:30 PM |
Symposia Spotlight 3: Human Islet Biology: Translating Discovery into Innovation (joint with HIRN) |
Breckenridge Ballroom |
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* Erica Nishimura, Novo Nordisk A/S
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Short Talks Chosen from Abstracts
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| 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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J. A Pospisilik, Van Andel Institute
Epigenetic Identification of beta Cell Subtypes |
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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 Modifications and Types in beta Cells |
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Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
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| 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 |
| 8:00–9:00 PM |
Cash Bar |
Foyer/Peak 1-3 |
| 8:00–9:00 PM |
Entertainment |
Colorado Ballroom |
