2026 Symposium Programme
@Fondation Louis-Jeantet
Geneva Symposium on Translational Diabetes & Metabolic Science
Monday, 5 October 2026
Louis‑Jeantet Auditorium
77 Route de Florissant, Geneva
Programme
08:30–09:00 — Registration
09:00–09:10 — Welcome & Opening Remarks
Prof. Timothy Frayling – Academic Coordinator, University of Geneva Diabetes Centre; Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva
Dr Karim Gariani – Co‑Chair, Diabetes Centre; Service of Endocrinology, Diabetology & Metabolism, Geneva University Hospitals
Dr Eva María Brú Tarí – Co‑Chair, Diabetes Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva
09:10–10:40 — Session 1: Islet Function & Metabolic Regulation
Chairs: Dr Karim Gariani (HUG); Dr Etienne Delangre (University of Geneva)
09:10–09:40
Prof. Yu‑Hsuan Carol Yang — University of Exeter, UK
Investigating neural fine-tuning of pancreatic islet physiology in zebrafish
09:40–10:10
Prof. Pierre Maechler — University of Geneva
Mitochondrial and Metabolic Signalling in β‑cells: Implications for Diabetes
10:10–10:40
Prof. Ulf Ahlgren — Umeå University, Sweden
Illuminating the pancreas: a new view on islet cellularity and beta-cell distribution in health and disease
10:40–11:30 — Coffee Break & Poster Session
11:30–12:30 — Session 2: Precision Approaches in Diabetes
Chairs: Prof. Charna Dibner and Dr Lauric Ferrat (University of Geneva)
11:30–12:00
Dr Dirk Jan Stenvers — Amsterdam University Medical Center, The Netherlands
Circadian disruption in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes in our 24/7 society
12:00–12:30
Prof. John Dennis — University of Exeter, UK
Individualised prediction of glycaemic response in type 2 diabetes: The Exeter Five‑Drug Class Model
12:30–13:30 — Lunch & Networking
13:30–14:30 — Session 3: Translational Innovations in Type 1 Diabetes
Chairs: Prof. Valérie Schwitzgebel and Dr Christophe Kosinski (Geneva University Hospitals)
13:30–14:00
Prof. Pedro Herrera — University of Geneva
Harnessing Non‑β‑Cell Insulin Secretion for Diabetes Remission
14:00-14:30
Prof. Henrik Semb — Helmholtz Munich, Institute of Translational Stem Cell Research, Germany
Development and testing of a new hESC-derived cell product for treatment of T1D
14:30–15:10 — Early Career Researchers (ECR) Session
Chairs: Dr Jorge César Correia (Geneva University Hospitals); Dr Haiping Wang (University of Geneva)
14:30–14:40 — ECR Talk 1 (selected abstract)
14:40–14:50 — ECR Talk 2 (selected abstract)
14:50–15:10
Prof. Sini Marjut Heinonen — Helsinki University Hospital, Finland
EASD Rising Star Talk: Activating Adipose Tissue Metabolism: Novel Targets for Obesity Therapy
15:10–15:40 — Coffee Break
15:40–17:10 — Session 4: Novel Metabolic Therapies and Mechanisms
Chairs: Prof. François Jornayvaz (Geneva University Hospitals); Dr Eva Bru Tari (University of Geneva)
15:40–16:10
Prof. Markus Stoffel — ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Novel mechanisms of posttranscriptional regulation of insulin in diabetes
16:10–16:40
Prof. Mirko Trajkovski — University of Geneva
From Microbiota to Metabolism: Adipose Tissue Plasticity and Therapeutic Avenues
16:40–17:10
Dr Melanie Scalise — Bern Diabetes Centre, Switzerland
Microbiome‑Targeted Interventions for Obesity & Metabolic Health
17:10–17:25 — Awards & Closing Remarks
Dr Angela Ramos Lobo — Best Poster Award
Dr Karim Gariani & Dr Eva María Brú Tarí — Closing remarks
17:25 — Cocktail Reception
16 Mar 2026