10th Annual Frontiers in Diabetes Research Symposium
The Gut-Brain Axis in Diabetes & Obesity
Friday, May 8, 2026 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Berg Hall, Li Ka Shing Learning and Knowledge Center, Stanford
Featuring talks from Stanford Faculty, trainees & external speakers
Posters can be on any topic related to diabetes and not restricted to the theme
("The Gut-Brain Axis in Diabetes & Obesity") of the Frontiers symposium.
Abstract Submission Deadline: Apr 24, 2026
Registration Deadline: May 1, 2026
Please register here.
Program agenda coming soon.
AgendaClick on the names or photos below to see their corresponding profiles. | |
| 8:30-09:30 am | Registration & Poster set-up (Coffee & Continental breakfast available) |
| 09:30-09:40 am |  Welcome by David Maahs, MD, PhD, Lucile Salter Packard Professor, Department of Pediatrics and Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University |
| 09:40-10:40 am | KEYNOTE 1: "Gut instincts: Mechanisms and complications of bariatric surgery" Darleen Sandoval, PhD, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz – Introduction by Joy Wu, MD, PhD |
| 10:40-11:20 am | SESSION 1 |
| 10:40-11:00 am |  Meenakshi Chakraborty, PhD Candidate, Bhatt Lab, Department of Genetics, Stanford University- "The impact of the aging gut microbiome on the brain" |
| 11:00-11:20 am |  Michele Patel, PhD, Instructor, Department of Medicine, Stanford University - "Beyond the Black Box: Identifying which Components Drive Success in Digital Weight Loss Interventions" |
| 11:20 am-12:30 pm | POSTER SESSION with TRAINEE LIGHTNING TALKS - Moderated by Michelle To |
| 12:30-1:30 pm | Lunch |
| 01:30-02:30 pm | KEYNOTE 2: "Changing the set point: Mechanisms of Pharmacological and Surgical Treatments for Obesity" Randy Seeley, PhD, Henry K. Ransom Endowed Professor of Surgery, Internal
Medicine, and Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan – Introduction by Katrin Svensson, PhD |
| 2:30-3:30 pm | SESSION 2 |
| 2:30-2:50 pm |  Wenfei Sun, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Stanford University- "From food choice to energy metabolism: neural circuits and adipose tissue dynamics" |
| 2:50-3:10 pm |  Shuke Xiao, PhD, Postdoctoral Scholar, Long Lab, Department of Pathology, Stanford University- "The Gut as a Metabolic Gatekeeper: A Coupled Enzyme-Transporter Axis for Lactoyl Amino Acids in Energy Homeostasis" |
| 3:10-3:30 pm |  Jennifer Woo Baidal, MD, MPH Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University- "Addressing early life food insecurity to reduce childhood obesity" |
| 3:30-3:45 pm | BREAK |
| 3:45-4:45 pm | Panel Discussion / Debate (with Coffee and Dessert) Topic: "Medical vs Surgical weight loss" Moderated by Sun Kim, MD, MS Panel information coming soon |
| 4:45-5:00 pm | Poster Prizes and Closing Remarks |
 Katrin Svensson, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Stanford University | |
social media
The SDRC leadership are in favor of disseminating the exciting work ongoing at Stanford on social media and our website to celebrate and inform the community of the important progress being made on our campus. However, we appreciate that there may be sensitive data in your presentation which you would prefer was not photographed and/or shared on social media. We ask that you indicate at the start of your talk if you would not like photos to be taken of your slides and/or your work shared on social media. If you have a specific slide you do not want shared, please indicate so. If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to Dr Anna Gloyn (agloyn@stanford.edu).
