December 2023
The Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center (FOEDRC) recently held its annual retreat on November 18th, bringing together a community of researchers, faculty, and trainees dedicated to continuing the success of the FOEDRC. The event featured a series of engaging presentations, discussions, and poster sessions, offering a comprehensive overview of the work taking place within our diabetes community.
The day kicked off with opening remarks by the co-directors of the FOEDRC, Kamal Rahmouni and Andrew Norris. The retreat featured presentations by the Director of the Metabolomics Core, Eric Taylor and Director of the Metabolic Phenotyping Core, Eric Weatherford who gave insightful updates on each core.
The event also introduced new faculty members, Bing Li, Seth Tomchik, and Ravinder Reddy Gaddam, who shared their expertise and outlined their research goals. The addition of these accomplished researchers further strengthens the FOEDRC’s approach to understanding and combating diabetes.
A highlight of the retreat was the keynote address by Dr. Christoph Buettner who is Professor of Medicine and Chancellor Scholar, Chief of the Division of Endocrinology,
Metabolism & Nutrition and Vice Chair for Basic Research in the Department of Medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Buettner, delivered a talk titled "How does obesity cause insulin resistance?" sharing valuable insight into a critical aspect of diabetes research.
During lunch, attendees had the chance to explore poster presentations by three researchers:
1. Kelli Davie, PhD: "The physiological impact of EL inhibition by ANGPTL3 on HDL"
2. Jayashree Jena, PhD: "Brown Adipose Tissue-Derived GDF15 Mediates Energy Homeostasis in a Sex-Dependent Manner"
3. Jayarani Putri, PhD: "The role of Sin3a and FOXOs in OXPHOS gene expression in diabetic muscle"
The post-lunch session was marked by a series of compelling presentations from the Center for Gene Therapy. Four presenters shared their most recent research findings unveiling new understandings in the realm of diabetes and related conditions.
1. Xingshen Sun, PhD, Research Professor of Anatomy and Cell Biology, talked about the “Effects of Ivacaftor on Pancreas in CFTR-G551D Ferret”
2. Tate Neff, PhD Candidate in Cell and Developmental Biology Program discussed his work “Investigating Micropeptide Involvement in the Pathogenesis of Cystic Fibrosis Related Diabetes”
3. Yu Sun, PhD, Research Scholar in Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, presented his work on “iPSC-models of pancreatic development in the ferret”
4. Philip Polgreen, MD, MPH, Professor of Internal Medicine-Infectious Diseases, focused his talk on “CF carriers and risks for pancreatic and kidney disorders: a pilot update”
The retreat concluded with a presentation by Bridge to the Cure recipient Bing Li, PhD offering a glimpse into the innovative research that holds promise from bridging the gap between current understanding and future cures in the diabetes world.
As always, the FOEDRC 9th Annual Retreat was a resounding success, fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge, and inspiring further advancements in the quest to understand and combat diabetes. The event demonstrated the dedication and passion of the diabetes research community.