Building a Pillar of Excellence in Metabolic Research at Indiana University Symposium

Building a Pillar of Excellence in Metabolic Research at Indiana University Symposium

Join us at the 2025 Building a Pillar of Excellence in Metabolic Research at Indiana University Symposium, a premier event co-led by the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, IU Bloomington School of Public Health and the Office of the Vice Provost for Research, and organized by the Cancer, Obesity, Metabolic-Musculoskeletal Pathways: Advancing Scientific Solutions (COMPASS) Working Group.

This dynamic, cross-disciplinary symposium convenes clinical and research faculty, trainees, community leaders and industry partners to explore the intersection of metabolic research and cancer. With sessions spanning basic, translational, clinical, and population sciences, this event supports knowledge exchange, community engagement, and the future of metabolic and cancer research across Indiana.

Students, fellows, faculty and staff engaged in metabolic and cancer research or clinical care are invited to present their work during an interactive poster session. The symposium will be Tuesday, Nov. 25 in Walther Hall.

The registration deadline is Nov. 10.

Register now

For questions about the symposium, please contact Crystal Baker. For assistance with registration and abstract submission, please contact Steven Verhagen.

Directions

Symposium will be held in Walther Hall (980 W. Walnut St.)
Parking will be validated for the Lockefield Garage (951 Wishard Blvd.)

Campus map

Agenda

 

8:30 - 9 a.m.

Breakfast/check-in/poster Set-up

(Walther Hall, Atrium)

9 - 9:15 a.m.

Welcome remarks

(Walther Hall R3, 203)

Jason Tennessen, PhD

 

Associate Chair for Research and Facilities, Biology

Associate Professor, Biology

9:15 - 10:15 a.m.

Keynote #1

45-min presentation, 15-minute Q&A (R3-203) 

 

Richard DiMarchi, PhD

“Drug discovery directed at obesity and associated diseases”

Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Gill Chair in Biomolecular Sciences at Indiana University

Member of the National Academy of Medicine and the National Inventors Hall of Fame

Former Group Vice President at Eli Lilly and later at Novo Nordisk; recognized for his contributions to the discovery and development of rDNA-derived Humalog®, rGlucagon®, and Forteo®

 

10:15 - 10:25 a.m.

Break

10:25 - 11:25 a.m.

Keynote #2

45-min presentation, 15-minute Q&A (R3-203)

 

Melissa Kacena, PhD

“Leveraging Current and Future Musculoskeletal Research Assets to Drive Discovery”

Vice Chair for Research and Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Director of Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health

IU Indianapolis Chancellor’s Professor

 

11:25 - 12:30 p.m.

Lunch & Poster Session (Walther, Atrium)

12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

Trainee talks (2 trainees)

20-min presentation, 10-minute Q&A each (R3-203)

 

Shefali A Shefali

“Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase regulates Tor activity to suppress abnormal growth in the Drosophila larval brain”

Indiana University, Department of Biology, Bloomington, IN

 

Daniel Sidhom, MD

“Positive association between periprostatic adipose tissue volume and prostate volume on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging”

Indiana University, Department of Urology, Indianapolis, IN

 

1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Keynote #3

45-min presentation, 15-minute Q&A (R3-203) 

 

Jiang Bian, PhD

“Real-World Data to Real-World Evidence: Cancer Risk and Outcomes in the Context of GLP-1 and Obesity”

Associate Dean of Data Science

Walther and Regenstrief Professor of Cancer Informatics

Professor of Biostatistics & Health Data Science

 

2:30 - 2:45 p.m.

Break / move to breakout session rooms

2:45 - 4:00 p.m.

Concurrent breakout sessions

  • Connecting Cancer, Metabolism, Aging & Nutrition: From Bench to Bedside [R3-303/305]

    • Moderators: Dimitrios Stefanidis, MD, PhD and Asmaa El-Kenawi, PhD

  • Building Indiana’s Metabolic Research Ecosystem: Environmental Exposures, Community Health, and Shared Resources [R3-300]

    • Moderators: Joeseph Shaw, PhD, Misty Hawkins, PhD, and Jason Tennessen, PhD

 

4:05 - 4:20 p.m.

Breakout Session Debrief and Closing Remarks (R3-203)

 

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