11th Helmholtz Diabetes Conference Highlights Metabolic Research Innovations
The 11th Helmholtz Diabetes Conference, held from September 23 to 25, 2024, in Munich, gathered leading international experts to discuss advancements in diabetes and metabolic research. Hosted by Stephan Herzig, Maria Rohm, and Mauricio Berriel Diaz from the Helmholtz Diabetes Center at Helmholtz Munich, the conference placed a special emphasis on "Wasting Metabolism" and its implications for metabolic disorders.
The conference covered key areas such as metabolism and cardiovascular diseases, molecular mechanisms in the complex metabolic syndrome cachexia, diabetes and insulin resistance, biology of the pancreas, obesity, clinical metabolic research and therapeutics, and endocrinology. These sessions provided valuable insights into the latest scientific discoveries and their potential to shape future therapeutic approaches.
In addition to the scientific sessions, several awards were presented during the conference:
- Lecture Award: Sponsored by the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), the Lecture Award was given to Prof. Barbara Cannon for her outstanding contributions to metabolism research. Cannon, a renowned British-Swedish biochemist and physiologist, is best known for her pioneering work on thermogenesis in mammals, with a focus on brown adipose tissue.
- HeIDi Awards: Sponsorded by the Edith-Haberland-Wagner Foundation, the HeIDi Awards were presented to young researchers Roberta Sartori and Sarah Stern, recognizing their excellence in metabolic research.
- FlashTalk Awards: Two FlashTalk Awards, supported by the scientific journal Molecular Metabolism, went to Marielle Minère and Henning Langer for their standout short presentations.
- Poster Prize: The Poster Prize, sponsored by the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), was awarded to Leonardo Matta for presenting the most innovative and visually impactful research poster.
"This year’s Helmholtz Diabetes Conference has once again proven to be a vital platform for global collaboration in metabolic research. By focusing on 'Wasting Metabolism,' we have delved deeper into one of the most pressing challenges in the field. The insights shared here will undoubtedly shape the future of therapeutic approaches and drive our collective efforts to tackle diabetes and related metabolic disorders on a global scale," says Prof. Stephan Herzig, Director of the Helmholtz Diabetes Center at Helmholtz Munich.