LSI announces May symposium: Molecular Insights into Metabolic Disease
April 5, 2006
ANN ARBOR, Mich--- Top researchers specializing in the development of new therapies for diabetes, obesity, and muscular diseases will discuss their latest findings at the Life Sciences Institute's fifth annual symposium: Molecular Insights into Metabolic Disease on Thursday, May 11, 2006 . The symposium is co-sponsored with the Michigan Comprehensive Diabetes Center and the Michigan Diabetes Research and Training Center at the University of Michigan.
Bruce M. Spiegelman, professor of cell biology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School , will kick off the meeting as the honorary Mary Sue & Kenneth Coleman Life Sciences Lecturer. Spiegelman's research focuses on cell differentiation, cellular metabolism and genetic factors involved in obesity and diabetes. His team has made important discoveries including the identification of a master regulator of fat development called PPAR-gamma. Most recently, his team showed that a critical metabolic protein PGC-1 alpha regulates oxidative metabolism in multiple tissues, and this may be related to diabetes, obesity and neurodegenerative disease.
Spiegleman was elected to both the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2002 among many honors.
The full-day program also includes noted researchers: Jeffrey E. Pessin, SUNY-Stony Brook; Michael N. Hall, Biozentrum of the University of Basel; Cynthia Kenyon, University of California, San Francisco; Jeffrey S. Flier, Harvard Medical School and Barbara B. Kahn, Harvard Medical School.
LSI's annual symposia feature recent developments in areas of interdisciplinary science. They are designed to encourage the exchange of ideas and to provide the opportunity for students and scientists alike to interact with and learn from prominent scientific leaders.
University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman and her husband, Kenneth Coleman, made a significant leadership gift in 2004 endowing a variety of efforts across the University. The Institute serves as Michigan 's hub for collaborative biomedical research on human health problems.
The meeting, which is open to the public, will run from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm in Forum Hall at Palmer Commons on the University of Michigan campus.
The complete schedule of speakers and topics is:
Mary Sue and Kenneth Coleman Life Sciences Lecture: "Transcriptional Control of Systemic Energy Homeostasis" 9:15 am
Bruce M. Spiegelman, Ph.D.
Professor of Cell Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School
"Uncoupling of insulin-regulated glucose sensitivity from fatty acid metabolism" 10:30 am
Jeffrey E. Pessin, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, SUNY-Stony Brook
"TOR signaling and control of cell growth in yeast and mammals" 11:30 am
Michael N. Hall, Ph.D.
Professor of Biochemistry, Biozentrum of the University of Basel
"Genes and Cells that Regulate the Lifespan of C. elegans" 1:30 pm
Cynthia Kenyon, Ph.D.
American Cancer Society Professor
Director, Hillblom Center for the Biology of Aging, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco
The periphery and the brain in energy balance: recent initiatives 2:30 pm
Jeffrey S. Flier, M.D.
Chief Academic Officer, Harvard Faculty Dean for Academic Affairs, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
George C. Resiman Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
A novel adipocyte- secreted molecule involved in insulin resistance in obesity and type 2 diabetes: Retinol Binding Protein 4 3:45 pm
Barbara B. Kahn, M.D.
Chief, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
The Michigan Diabetes Research and Training Center Poster Session 2006 follows the symposium in Great Lakes Room, 5-6:30 p.m.
