Gut-Brain Axis
Mar 16–19, 2026 | Beaver Run Conference Center, Breckenridge, CO, United States
Scientific Organizers:
Martin G. Myers, Jr., Darleen A. Sandoval, and Tune H Pers
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Mar 16–19, 2026 | Beaver Run Conference Center, Breckenridge, CO, United States
Scientific Organizers: Martin G. Myers, Jr., Darleen A. Sandoval, and Tune H Pers
Martin G. Myers, Jr., MD, PhD
University of Michigan
Martin G. Myers, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., is a leader in the CNS control of food intake and metabolism. He is Professor in the departments of Internal Medicine and Molecular and Integrative Physiology at the University of Michigan, where he directs the Caswell Diabetes Institute. His research program explores the hypothalamic mechanisms of leptin action in addition to his major focus on the brainstem circuits that receive circulating and vagal nerve information from the gut and modulate food intake. Dr. Myers was the first to separate the brainstem circuits that receive signals of malaise to mediate sickness responses from those that receive feeding-related information to promote satiation. Dr. Myers has participated in meeting organization in the past, including in the planning sessions for Obesity Week and the ADA Scientific Sessions and as co-organizer on 3 previous Keystone Symposia conferences.
Darleen A. Sandoval, PhD
University of Colorado
Darleen Sandoval, Ph.D., is a leader in understanding gut signals that impact feeding and physiology and especially how the gut communicates with the brain. She is Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Colorado Medical Center. Her work has defined mechanisms by which bariatric surgery alters food intake and glucose homeostasis and has identified mechanisms of action for incretins and other gut hormones. She has led the development of several large meetings, including the Endocrine Society National Meeting, and the ADA Scientific Sessions. She also has substantial leadership experience supporting and expanding career development opportunities for women in science.
Tune H Pers, PhD
University of Copenhagen
Tune Pers, Ph.D., is Associate Professor at the Center for Basic Metabolic Research at the University of Copenhagen. His research focuses on the use of bioinformatic techniques to define cellular targets that mediate the effects of gut peptides and their mimetics and in integrating GWAS information with cellular gene expression profiles to identify candidate neuron populations that regulate body mass index (BMI). His pioneering work to generate analytical pipelines has enabled the identification of mediators of anorectic peptide action and body weight control. While this is Dr. Pers’ first experience organizing a Keystone Symposium, he has co-organized a host of meetings in Europe.
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Livestream
In Person
On Demand
***Meeting program subject to change.
Available Formats: = Livestream = In Person = On DemandMonday, March 16, 2026
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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
Colorado Ballroom
Keynote Address (Joint)
8:10–9:00 AM
Colorado 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
Colorado Ballroom
Alice E Adriaenssens, AstraZeneca
The Central GIPR Signaling Axis: New Insights, New Questions
The Central GIPR Signaling Axis: New Insights, New Questions
Lotte B 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
Jenny M Brown, University of Copenhagen
Short Talk: A Novel Gut-brain Circuit Controlling Energy Balance through the Neurokinin 2 Receptor
Short Talk: A Novel Gut-brain Circuit Controlling Energy Balance through the Neurokinin 2 Receptor
Coffee Break
9:30–9:50 AM
3rd Floor Foyer
Meet the Editors (Joint)
11:30–12:30 PM
Colorado Ballroom
Poster Setup
12:30–1:00 PM
Peaks 1 - 3
On Own for Lunch
12:30–2:00 PM
Poster Viewing
1:00–10:00 PM
Peaks 1 - 3
Symposia Spotlight 1: Gut Sensing and Regulation
2:30–4:30 PM
Breckenridge Ballroom
Evelyn de Groot, Baylor College of Medicine
N-acetylaspartate Accumulation in Enterocytes Governs Intestinal Cholesterol Sensing
N-acetylaspartate Accumulation in Enterocytes Governs Intestinal Cholesterol Sensing
Nicole Ferguson, University of Arizona
Intestinal Neuropod Cells Function as Region-Specific Sensors of Vitamin A Availability
Intestinal Neuropod Cells Function as Region-Specific Sensors of Vitamin A Availability
Ioannis Gampierakis, Pfizer
Human Colonic L-cells Display Histologic Features of Neuropod Cells and are Dysregulated in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Human Colonic L-cells Display Histologic Features of Neuropod Cells and are Dysregulated in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Afsin Malik, St. John's University
16α-Hydroxylated Bile Acid Mediates Food Intake Through Intestinal Oleoylethanolamide (OEA)-PPARα Signaling
16α-Hydroxylated Bile Acid Mediates Food Intake Through Intestinal Oleoylethanolamide (OEA)-PPARα Signaling
Rachel H McMahan, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Intestinal Reg3g Overexpression Mitigates Ethanol-Induced Neuroinflammation Following Burn Injury
Intestinal Reg3g Overexpression Mitigates Ethanol-Induced Neuroinflammation Following Burn Injury
Leonard Lawandos, Johns Hopkins University
Transcutaneous Auricular Nerve Stimulation Attenuates Bidirectional Neuro- and Intestinal Inflammation in a Murine Model of Traumatic Brain Injury
Transcutaneous Auricular Nerve Stimulation Attenuates Bidirectional Neuro- and Intestinal Inflammation in a Murine Model of Traumatic Brain Injury
Chen Liu, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
A Gut–Brain Serotonergic Axis Regulates Food Intake
A Gut–Brain Serotonergic Axis Regulates Food Intake
Coffee Available
4:30–5:00 PM
1st Floor Foyer
Nutrient and Mechanical Sensing in the Gut
5:00–7:00 PM
Breckenridge Ballroom
Darleen A. Sandoval, University of Colorado
Nutrient Sensing in the Gut
Nutrient Sensing in the Gut
Kara Marshall, Baylor College of Medicine
Defining Force-Sensing Mechanisms in the Gastrointestinal Tract
Defining Force-Sensing Mechanisms in the Gastrointestinal Tract
Melanie M Kaelberer, Duke University
Intestinal Neuropods
Intestinal Neuropods
Sung-Yon Kim, Seoul National University
Mechanosensory Feedback Circuits Controlling Ingestion
Mechanosensory Feedback Circuits Controlling Ingestion
Social Hour with Dinner
7:00–8:00 PM
Summit Gallery
Poster Session 1
7:30–10:00 PM
Peaks 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
Inter-Organ Communication (Joint)
8:00–11:00 AM
Colorado 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
Angela Kim, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Short Talk: Selective Brain-to-gut Communication via Transcriptionally-defined Vagus-to-enteric Neuron Circuits
Short Talk: Selective Brain-to-gut Communication via Transcriptionally-defined Vagus-to-enteric Neuron Circuits
Coffee Break
9:00–9:20 AM
3rd Floor Foyer
Award Recipient Acknowledgement
9:20–9:25 AM
Colorado Ballroom
Poster Setup
11:00–1:00 PM
Peaks 1 - 3
On Own for Lunch
11:00–5:00 PM
Poster Viewing
1:00–10:00 PM
Peaks 1 - 3
Symposia Spotlight 2: Signals from the Gut to the Brain
1:30–3:15 PM
Breckenridge Ballroom
Natalie S Figueredo Burgos, UCL
Gipr Brainstem Neurons Bidirectionally Control Food Intake and Receive Divergent Vagal Inputs
Gipr Brainstem Neurons Bidirectionally Control Food Intake and Receive Divergent Vagal Inputs
Jordan B. Wean, University of Michigan
The Effect of GIPR Loss of Function on Bariatric Surgery and Non-GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Weight Loss Compounds
The Effect of GIPR Loss of Function on Bariatric Surgery and Non-GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Weight Loss Compounds
Iris Wu, University of Michigan
Gipr-expressing AP Neurons Contribute to the Control of Food Intake and Body Weight and Modify Responses to GLP1R Agonists
Gipr-expressing AP Neurons Contribute to the Control of Food Intake and Body Weight and Modify Responses to GLP1R Agonists
Nadine Eliasson, University of Lausanne
Gut-Brain Axis: The Role of GLP1R-Vagal Afferents in the Beneficial Effect of Dietary Fiber in Metabolic Health
Gut-Brain Axis: The Role of GLP1R-Vagal Afferents in the Beneficial Effect of Dietary Fiber in Metabolic Health
Allison Butt, Gubra
A Novel Multimodal Digital Rat Brain Atlas and Whole-Brain Imaging Pipeline for Mapping Satiety Pathways and Anti-Obesity Drug Effects
A Novel Multimodal Digital Rat Brain Atlas and Whole-Brain Imaging Pipeline for Mapping Satiety Pathways and Anti-Obesity Drug Effects
Christopher R Jabbarpour, UW-madison Genetics
Single-Nucleus Sequencing of the Brain Reveals Cell-Specific Pathways Driving the Metabolic Benefits of Sleeve Gastrectomy
Single-Nucleus Sequencing of the Brain Reveals Cell-Specific Pathways Driving the Metabolic Benefits of Sleeve Gastrectomy
Lihua Ye, Ohio State University
Enteroendocrine Cell Signaling Wires the Gut-brain Vagal Axis
Enteroendocrine Cell Signaling Wires the Gut-brain Vagal Axis
Fereshteh Dehghani, Texas Tech University
A BCAA-Synthesizing Bacterium Exacerbates Food-Reward Responses Under a High-Fat Diet
A BCAA-Synthesizing Bacterium Exacerbates Food-Reward Responses Under a High-Fat Diet
Career Roundtable (Joint)
3:30–4:30 PM
Breckenridge Ballroom
Coffee Available
4:30–5:00 PM
1st Floor Foyer
Probing the Dorsal Vagal Complex
5:00–7:00 PM
Breckenridge Ballroom
Tune H Pers, University of Copenhagen
Single-Cell Mapping of Anorectic Pathways in the DVC
Single-Cell Mapping of Anorectic Pathways in the DVC
Nancy A. Thornberry, Kallyope, Inc.
Targeting Gut-Brain Circuits for the Treatment of Diabetes, Obesity, and Related Disorders
Targeting Gut-Brain Circuits for the Treatment of Diabetes, Obesity, and Related Disorders
Henning Fenselau, University of Cologne
Gut-Sensing DVC Circuits
Gut-Sensing DVC Circuits
Georgina Dowsett, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research
Short Talk: A Transcriptomic Atlas of the Mouse and Human Dorsal Vagal Complex
Short Talk: A Transcriptomic Atlas of the Mouse and Human Dorsal Vagal Complex
Marc-Antonio Padilla, University of Michigan
Short Talk: Identification of a Bioinformatically-Defined NTS Neuron Population that Encodes Aversion/Sickness and Anti-Inflammatory Responses
Short Talk: Identification of a Bioinformatically-Defined NTS Neuron Population that Encodes Aversion/Sickness and Anti-Inflammatory Responses
Social Hour with Dinner
7:00–8:00 PM
Summit Gallery
Poster Session 2
7:30–10:00 PM
Peaks 1 - 3
Thursday, March 19, 2026
Breakfast
7:00–8:00 AM
Summit Gallery
Behavioral Control
8:00–11:00 AM
Breckenridge Ballroom
Linda Rinaman, Florida State University
Role for GLP1 and PrRP Neurons in Behavior
Role for GLP1 and PrRP Neurons in Behavior
Zachary A. Knight, University of California, San Francisco
Control of Ingestion by the Caudal Brainstem
Control of Ingestion by the Caudal Brainstem
Martin G. Myers, Jr., University of Michigan
CNS Control of Nausea and Sickness Responses
CNS Control of Nausea and Sickness Responses
Jon F Davis, Novo nordisk
Short Talk: Brain & Behavioral Responses to Semaglutide
Short Talk: Brain & Behavioral Responses to Semaglutide
Nicolas F. Berbari, Indiana University-Indianapolis
Short Talk: Hedgehog Activation in Hypothalamic Neurons Causes Obesity
Short Talk: Hedgehog Activation in Hypothalamic Neurons Causes Obesity
Leonie Cabot, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research
Short Talk: High-fat Diet Feeding Acutely Alters Vagal Gut-brain Signaling to Promote Consumption
Short Talk: High-fat Diet Feeding Acutely Alters Vagal Gut-brain Signaling to Promote Consumption
Luca Galgano, University of Pittsburgh
Short Talk: The Focal Adhesion Kinases Regulate Central Energy Homeostasis Through Leptin Signaling
Short Talk: The Focal Adhesion Kinases Regulate Central Energy Homeostasis Through Leptin Signaling
Coffee Break
9:00–9:20 AM
1st Floor Foyer
Poster Setup
11:00–1:00 PM
Peaks 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
Alexander Ticho, Mayo Clinic
Obesity Subphenotyping Cluster with Reduced GLP-1 and Fast Gastric Emptying Predicts Weight Loss Response to Tirzepatide
Obesity Subphenotyping Cluster with Reduced GLP-1 and Fast Gastric Emptying Predicts Weight Loss Response to Tirzepatide
Hailey F Welch, University of Texas at Dallas
A Molecular Basis for Right-Left Asymmetry in Gut-Brain Signaling
A Molecular Basis for Right-Left Asymmetry in Gut-Brain Signaling
Poster Viewing
1:00–10:00 PM
Peaks 1 - 3
Coffee Available
4:30–5:00 PM
1st Floor Foyer
Transmitting Gut Signals to the Forebrain
5:00–6:45 PM
Breckenridge Ballroom
Amber L. Alhadeff, Monell Chemical Senses Center
Nutrient Sensing and the Regulation of CNS Function
Nutrient Sensing and the Regulation of CNS Function
Christoffer Clemmensen, University of Copenhagen
Engineering Peptides to Target Specific CNS Cell Types
Engineering Peptides to Target Specific CNS Cell Types
John N. Campbell, University of Virginia
What Happens in Vagus – Unraveling Neural Circuits for Heart and Gut Control
What Happens in Vagus – Unraveling Neural Circuits for Heart and Gut Control
Kevin W. Williams, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Short Talk: Neuroplasticity of Hypothalamic Neurons Following Bariatric Surgery
Short Talk: Neuroplasticity of Hypothalamic Neurons Following Bariatric Surgery
Meeting Wrap-Up: Outcomes and Future Directions
6:45–7:00 PM
Breckenridge 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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