Joint with: Gut-Brain Axis
Islet Biology and Diabetes: Beta Cell Compensation, Failure and Recovery
Mar 16–19, 2026 | Beaver Run Conference Center, Breckenridge, CO, United States
Scientific Organizers:
Olov Andersson, Barak Blum, Amelia K. Linnemann, and Erica Nishimura
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Mar 16–19, 2026 | Beaver Run Conference Center, Breckenridge, CO, United States
Scientific Organizers: Olov Andersson, Barak Blum, Amelia K. Linnemann, and Erica Nishimura
Olov Andersson, PhD
Karolinska Institutet and Uppsala University
Olov Andersson, Ph.D., is a Professor and Chair of Experimental Diabetes Research at Uppsala University, and the diabetes research center, EXODIAB. Dr. Andersson is also affiliated with Karolinska Institute, where he previously was the co-director for the diabetes center SRP Diabetes. His research focuses on compensatory and regenerative mechanisms for beta cells using several model systems, including zebrafish, mice and human tissues. He has organized several conferences, including the Nordic Meeting on Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration and has previously chaired sessions at Keystone Symposia and various diabetes-focused meetings.
Barak Blum, PhD
University of Wisconsin
Dr. Barak Blum, Ph.D., is a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology (CRB), and a Faculty Affiliate in the Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health. Dr. Blum’s research is focused on fundamental questions related to the development and maturation of the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, and the organogenesis and regeneration of the islets of Langerhans using mouse models and human iPSC-derived islet-like clusters. Dr. Blum had served as a co-organizer on several scientific society meetings in these areas, and had contributed as session chair, abstract reviewer, and speaker at numerous international conferences including the ISSCR annual meeting.
Amelia K. Linnemann, PhD
Indiana University School of Medicine
Dr. Amelia Linnemann, Ph.D., is a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research at Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM). She also directs the Optical Microscopy Core within the NIDDK funded Indiana Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases and serves as the Associate Director of Pipeline Program Development at IUSM, focused on trainee development. Her research is focused on pancreatic beta cell adaptation to stress, specifically through studies of the autophagy and the antioxidant responses, as well as new approaches to in vivo islet imaging. She has organized several HIRN annual meetings, the regional Midwest Islet Club Meeting, and is currently a standing member of the Basic Mechanisms of Diabetes and Metabolism NIH study section.
Erica Nishimura, PhD
Novo Nordisk A/S
Dr. Erica Nishimura, PhD, is Scientific Vice President in Diabetes, Obesity & MASH Global Research, within Research & Early Development at Novo Nordisk, Denmark where she oversees the insulin & novel T2D research and development projects. She specializes in the development of new long-acting insulin therapies, including the degludec, icodec and IcoSema portfolios. Her current research focuses on the biological characterization of novel insulin analogues and the identification of new therapeutic targets aimed at addressing insulin resistance and beta cell function.
Available Formats:
Supported by:
Livestream
In Person
On Demand
***Meeting program subject to change.
Available Formats: = Livestream = In Person = On DemandMonday, March 16, 2026
Fundraising
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CU Anschutz Pre-Conference Workshop: Networking & Communication Skills (separate registration required) Learn more at: https://keysym.us/CUAnschutz26
12:00–3:00 PM
Registration
4:00–8:00 PM
3rd Floor Foyer
Welcome Mixer
6:00–8:00 PM
3rd Floor Foyer
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Breakfast
7:00–8:00 AM
Summit Gallery
Welcome Remarks (Joint)
8:00–8:10 AM
Breckenridge Ballroom
Keynote Address (Joint)
8:10–9:00 AM
Breckenridge Ballroom
Daniel J. Drucker, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute
Incretins all Over the Place
Incretins all Over the Place
Future Therapeutics for Diabetes and Obesity (Joint)
9:00–11:30 AM
Breckenridge Ballroom
Alice E Adriaenssens, University College London
The Central GIPR Signaling Axis: New Insights, New Questions
The Central GIPR Signaling Axis: New Insights, New Questions
Lotte Bjerre Knudsen, Novo Nordisk A/S
What GLP-1 Did and Did Not Do For People with Diabetes
What GLP-1 Did and Did Not Do For People with Diabetes
Over Cabrera, Eli Lilly and Company
Islet-Targeting Therapies
Islet-Targeting Therapies
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
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
Coffee Break
9:30–9:50 AM
1st Floor Foyer
Meet the Editors (Joint)
11:30–12:30 PM
Breckenridge Ballroom
Poster Setup
11:30–1:00 PM
Peak 1-3
On Own for Lunch
12:30–2:00 PM
Poster Viewing
1:00–10:00 PM
Peak 1-3
Symposia Spotlight 1: Emerging Technologies and Experimental Systems
2:30–4:30 PM
Colorado Ballroom
Jace Aloway †, CU Anschutz
Mapping m6A Modifications during Pancreas Development using Direct RNA Sequencing
Mapping m6A Modifications during Pancreas Development using Direct RNA Sequencing
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
Single-Dose Beta-Cell-Restricted Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Gene Therapy Durably Improves Beta-Cell Function and Glycemic Control with Low Systemic Exposure
Peinan Hu †, Case Western Reserve University
Allele-Resolved 3D Multi-Omic Maps Reveal Genetic Control of β-Cell Chromatin Looping and Disease-Linked Regulatory Mechanisms
Allele-Resolved 3D Multi-Omic Maps Reveal Genetic Control of β-Cell Chromatin Looping and Disease-Linked Regulatory Mechanisms
Zipeng Alex Li †, Washington University School of Medicine
Leveraging Base-editing to Treat Wolfram Syndrome: A Monogenic Model of Diabetes, Neurodegeneration, and Optic Atrophy
Leveraging Base-editing to Treat Wolfram Syndrome: A Monogenic Model of Diabetes, Neurodegeneration, and Optic Atrophy
Olga Babosova †, CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences
Identification and Validation of Novel ARX Degraders
Identification and Validation of Novel ARX Degraders
Ali H Shilleh †, University of Oxford
The Circulating Albuminoid Protein GC-globulin is an Allosteric Regulator of GLP-1 Receptor Signaling
The Circulating Albuminoid Protein GC-globulin is an Allosteric Regulator of GLP-1 Receptor Signaling
Yasunori Aizawa †, Institute of Science Tokyo
Engineering Hypoimmunogenic and Functionally Enhanced iPSC-Derived β Cells Using a High-Precision Genome Writing Platform: Geno-Writing™
Engineering Hypoimmunogenic and Functionally Enhanced iPSC-Derived β Cells Using a High-Precision Genome Writing Platform: Geno-Writing™
Dan Hesselson †, Centenary Institute
Building Resilient Beta Cells by Directed Evolution of PDX1
Building Resilient Beta Cells by Directed Evolution of PDX1
Coffee Available
4:30–5:00 PM
3rd Floor Foyer
Development, Stem Cells & Regeneration of beta Cells
5:00–7:00 PM
Colorado Ballroom
Heiko Lickert, Institute of Diabetes and Regeneration
Formation of Functional beta Cells from Progenitors
Formation of Functional beta Cells from Progenitors
Olov Andersson, Karolinska Institutet and Uppsala University
Beta Cell Differentiation and Regeneration in Zebrafish
Beta Cell Differentiation and Regeneration in Zebrafish
Francesca M. Spagnoli, King’s College London
Genetics/Genomics of beta Cell Development and Regeneration
Genetics/Genomics of beta Cell Development and Regeneration
Sonja Schrepfer, Cedars-Sinai
Hypo-immune Pancreatic Islet Transplantation
Hypo-immune Pancreatic Islet Transplantation
Social Hour with Dinner
7:00–8:00 PM
Summit Gallery
Poster Session 1
7:30–10:00 PM
Peak 1-3
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Breakfast
7:00–8:00 AM
Summit Gallery
Women in Science Networking Event, Sponsored by Amgen, Co-Organized by WIELD
7:05–8:00 AM
Summit Gallery
Inter-Organ Communication (Joint)
8:00–11:00 AM
Breckenridge Ballroom
Madina Sokolov, University of Miami
Peripheral Innervation in Energy Metabolism
Peripheral Innervation in Energy Metabolism
Sarah Stanley, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
CNS Control of Blood Glucose
CNS Control of Blood Glucose
Hideki Katagiri, Tohoku University
Neural Regulation and Manipulation of Pancreatic Beta Cells
Neural Regulation and Manipulation of Pancreatic Beta Cells
Yu Hsuan Carol Yang, University of Exeter Medical School
Role of Islet Innervation in Zebrafish
Role of Islet Innervation in Zebrafish
José Rivera-Feliciano †, Harvard University
Short Talk: Atollin, a Hormone Enabling Insulin-Independent Glucose Control
Short Talk: Atollin, a Hormone Enabling Insulin-Independent Glucose Control
Coffee Break
9:00–9:20 AM
1st Floor Foyer
Award Recipient Acknowledgement
9:20–9:25 AM
Breckenridge Ballroom
Poster Setup
11:00–1:00 PM
Peak 1-3
On Own for Lunch
11:00–5:00 PM
Poster Viewing
1:00–10:00 PM
Peak 1-3
Symposia Spotlight 2: Late-Breaking Research
1:30–3:15 PM
Colorado Ballroom
Jacob Enriquez †, University of Chicago
Messenger RNA Delivery to Islet β-cells using Functionalized Lipid Nanoparticles
Messenger RNA Delivery to Islet β-cells using Functionalized Lipid Nanoparticles
Mohammad Ovais Azizzanjani †, Stanford University
Metabolic STAMP for Deciphering Mechanisms by which GPCRs Regulate Pancreatic β-cell Insulin Secretion
Metabolic STAMP for Deciphering Mechanisms by which GPCRs Regulate Pancreatic β-cell Insulin Secretion
Nirmala Vasan Balasenthilkumaran †, University of California San Diego
How do α-cells Influence β-cell Function, and the Polarity of T-cell Infiltration during Early T1D?
How do α-cells Influence β-cell Function, and the Polarity of T-cell Infiltration during Early T1D?
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
Exploration of Individual Beta Cell Function Over Time In Vivo: Effects of Hyperglycemia and Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor (GLP1R) Agonism
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
The Impact of Pancreatic Beta-Delta-Cell Gap Junction Coupling on Hormone Secretion and Glucose Homeostasis
Nadav Sharon †, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology
An Autoantibody Produced in Insulitic Islets Reveals a Differential Response of Alpha and Beta Cells Towards Viruses
An Autoantibody Produced in Insulitic Islets Reveals a Differential Response of Alpha and Beta Cells Towards Viruses
Career Roundtable (Joint)
3:30–4:30 PM
Breckenridge Ballroom
Coffee Available
4:30–5:00 PM
3rd Floor Foyer
Overcoming Beta Cell Stress: A Roadmap to Resilience and Recovery
5:00–7:00 PM
Colorado Ballroom
Amelia K. Linnemann, Indiana University School of Medicine
Decoding the Acute Islet Stress Response: Insights into Long-Term Functional Outcomes
Decoding the Acute Islet Stress Response: Insights into Long-Term Functional Outcomes
Peter J Thompson, University of Manitoba
Senescence and non-lethal stress in beta cells: mechanisms and targeting
Senescence and non-lethal stress in beta cells: mechanisms and targeting
Scott A. Soleimanpour, University of Michigan Medical School
Mitochondrial Quality Control in beta Cells
Mitochondrial Quality Control in beta Cells
Abigael Cheruiyot †, Joslin Diabetes Center/Harvard Medical School
Short Talk: Sustained High Glucose Perturbs mRNA-specific Translation in Pancreatic Beta-cells
Short Talk: Sustained High Glucose Perturbs mRNA-specific Translation in Pancreatic Beta-cells
Sudipta Ashe †, UCSF
Short Talk: Forging Diabetes: The Critical Role of Iron-Glutathione Homeostasis in Beta Cell Development and Failure
Short Talk: Forging Diabetes: The Critical Role of Iron-Glutathione Homeostasis in Beta Cell Development and Failure
Social Hour with Dinner
7:00–8:00 PM
Summit Gallery
Poster Session 2
7:30–10:00 PM
Peak 1-3
Thursday, March 19, 2026
Breakfast
7:00–8:00 AM
Summit Gallery
Maturation and Aging of Islet Cells
8:00–11:00 AM
Colorado Ballroom
Barak Blum, University of Wisconsin
Development and Maturation of Islet Cells
Development and Maturation of Islet Cells
Rafael Arrojo e Drigo, Vanderbilt University
Islet Cell Homeostasis and Longevity
Islet Cell Homeostasis and Longevity
Hongkui Deng, Peking University
Chemical Reprogramming of Human Somatic Cells & Functional Maturation of Stem Cell-Derived Islets
Chemical Reprogramming of Human Somatic Cells & Functional Maturation of Stem Cell-Derived Islets
Esra Karakose †, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Short Talk: Understanding the Mechanisms of Human Beta Cell Replication Using Insulinoma as a Model
Short Talk: Understanding the Mechanisms of Human Beta Cell Replication Using Insulinoma as a Model
Jeeyeon Cha †, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Short Talk: Genetic Background Influences the Phenotypic Penetrance in Male Mice Modeling MAFAS64F MODY
Short Talk: Genetic Background Influences the Phenotypic Penetrance in Male Mice Modeling MAFAS64F MODY
Michael Schleh †, Vanderbilt University
Short Talk: Alpha Cell Inflammation is a Hallmark of Islet Aging that is Reversed by Calorie Restriction
Short Talk: Alpha Cell Inflammation is a Hallmark of Islet Aging that is Reversed by Calorie Restriction
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
Short Talk: Mitochondrial Metabolic Alterations in Human Pancreatic β-cells in Type 2 Diabetes and in Aging
Coffee Break
9:00–9:20 AM
3rd Floor Foyer
Poster Setup
11:00–1:00 PM
Peak 1-3
On Own for Lunch
11:00–5:00 PM
Perspectives: Personalized Medicine & Patient-Centered Strategies (joint)
1:00–2:00 PM
Breckenridge Ballroom
Anne Gresch †, University of Colorado Denver
Sex-Specific Beta-Cell Heterogeneity and Stress Response in Type 2 Diabetes Development
Sex-Specific Beta-Cell Heterogeneity and Stress Response in Type 2 Diabetes Development
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
PanKbase Integrated Single-Cell Map: A Resource for Human Pancreatic Islet and Beta Cell Biology with New Insights into Diabetes
Poster Viewing
1:00–10:00 PM
Peak 1-3
Symposia Spotlight 3: Human Islet Biology: Translating Discovery into Innovation (joint with HIRN)
2:30–4:30 PM
Breckenridge Ballroom
* Erica Nishimura, Novo Nordisk A/S
Jordan Wright †, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Multimodal Analysis of Data from the Human Pancreas Analysis Program Reveals Heterogeneity in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
Multimodal Analysis of Data from the Human Pancreas Analysis Program Reveals Heterogeneity in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
Austin Stis †, University of Florida
GABA Biosensing Cell Array Reveals Temporal GABA Secretion Dynamics from Beta Cells
GABA Biosensing Cell Array Reveals Temporal GABA Secretion Dynamics from Beta Cells
Sam Preza †, University of Pennsylvania
DEC1 Regulates Human β Cell Functional Maturation and Circadian Rhythm
DEC1 Regulates Human β Cell Functional Maturation and Circadian Rhythm
Isabella Altilio †, University of Miami
Spatial Transcriptomic Analysis of Ductal Remodeling in Pancreatic Samples from Type 1 Diabetic, Autoantibody-positive, and Non-diabetic Donors
Spatial Transcriptomic Analysis of Ductal Remodeling in Pancreatic Samples from Type 1 Diabetic, Autoantibody-positive, and Non-diabetic Donors
Coffee Available
4:30–5:00 PM
3rd Floor Foyer
Genomics & DNA/RNA Modifications in Diabetes
5:00–6:45 PM
Colorado Ballroom
J. A Pospisilik, Van Andel Institute
Epigenetic Identification of beta Cell Subtypes
Epigenetic Identification of beta Cell Subtypes
Rohit N Kulkarni, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School
RNA Biology and beta Cell Preservation
RNA Biology and beta Cell Preservation
Lori Sussel, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
RNA Modifications and Types in beta Cells
RNA Modifications and Types in beta Cells
Ailsa MacCalman †, University of Exeter
Short Talk: Epitranscriptomic Regulation of the Developing Human Pancreas
Short Talk: Epitranscriptomic Regulation of the Developing Human Pancreas
Meeting Wrap-Up: Outcomes and Future Directions
6:45–7:00 PM
Colorado Ballroom
Social Hour with Dinner
7:00–8:00 PM
Summit Gallery
Poster Session 3
7:30–10:00 PM
Peak 1-3
Friday, March 20, 2026
Departure
12:00–11:59 PM
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