Glucagon Physiology for the 21st Century

Feb. 9 - 10, 2026 Location Contacts

Event Details Agenda Abstracts

See Important Visitor Information below regarding an earlier registration deadline for foreign visitors.

Purpose

To bring together experts and emerging investigators in the field of glucagon physiology to foster discussion and identify gaps and research opportunities.

Meeting Objectives

At the end of the workshop, participants will identify gaps and opportunities for future research on:

Glucagon signaling and regulation of glucagon secretion
The physiological role of glucagon across tissues, including emerging insights into its actions beyond hepatic glucose regulation
The contribution of glucagon dysregulation to metabolic diseases and glucagon-based therapies

Background

Although glucagon was discovered nearly a century ago, our understanding of its full physiological roles continues to evolve. Traditionally recognized as a counter-regulatory hormone to insulin, glucagon has been primarily studied for its role in glucose homeostasis and its potential contribution to the pathogenesis of diabetes. However, emerging research reveals that glucagon also plays an important role in amino acid and lipid metabolism, positioning it as a master regulator of nutrient metabolism. Intriguingly, glucagon receptor agonists have shown promise as treatments for metabolic diseases such as obesity, metabolic-associated fatty liver disease, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Yet, the mechanisms underlying their therapeutic effects remain unclear. This glucagon workshop aims to bring together leading investigators to discuss the latest advances in glucagon physiology and its implications for the pathophysiology of metabolic diseases.

Planning Committee

Hanyu Liang, M.D., Ph.D.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Maren Laughlin, Ph.D.
NIDDK

Albert Hwa, Ph.D.
NIDDK

David D’Alessio, M.D.
Duke University

Jonathan Campbell, Ph.D.
Duke University

Registration Deadline

February 01, 2026

Important Visitor Information

Due to recent changes to the campus access policy, participants who do not have U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) status will need to complete the VisitNIH pre-registration process at least 30 days but no more than 60 days before the start of the event. To avoid missing this deadline, please register for the workshop using the link above as soon as possible and indicate your status. If VisitNIH pre-registration is required, a staff member will reach out to help you through the process.

Day 1: Monday, February 9, 2026

7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.

Registration

8:00 a.m. – 8:15 a.m.

Welcome and Opening Remarks
William Cefalu, M.D., Director, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolic Diseases (DEM), NIDDK, NIH
Hanyu (Maggie) Liang, M.D., Ph.D., Program Director, DEM, NIDDK, NIH

Meeting Co-Chairs
David D’Alessio, M.D., Professor, Duke University
Jonathan Campbell, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Duke University

8:15 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Keynote Presentation (Virtual): Manipulating Glucagon Action - Risks and Benefits
Daniel Drucker, M.D., University of Toronto

9:00 a.m. – 10:20 a.m.

Session 1: Alpha-Cell Physiology
Chair: Jonathan Campbell, Ph.D., Duke University

9:00 a.m. – 9:20 a.m.: Role of Glucagon Signaling in Postbariatric Hypoglycemia
Darleen Sandoval, Ph.D., University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
9:20 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.: Metabolic Regulation of Glucagon Secretion
Danielle Dean, Ph.D., Vanderbilt University
9:40 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.: Alpha Cell Dysfunction: Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
Marcela Brissova, Ph.D., Vanderbilt University
10:00 a.m. – 10:20 a.m.: Moderated Discussion

10:20 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Mini-session
Chair: Jonathan Campbell, Ph.D., Duke University

10:20 a.m. – 10:35 a.m.: Plasma Glucagon and Other Proglucagon Fragments: Potential Tools to Assess Alpha-Cell Health
Andy Hoofnagle, M.D., Ph.D., University of Washington
10:35 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.: Moderated Discussion

10:45 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.

Break

10:55 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Session 2: Glucagon Signaling
Chair: Lee Weinstein, M.D., NIDDK

10:55 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.: Ubiquitin-Dependent Signaling and Trafficking of the Glucagon Receptor
Sudha Shenoy, Ph.D., Duke University
11:15 a.m. – 11:35 a.m.: Regulation of Glucagon Secretion by G Proteins and Beta-Arrestins
Jurgen Wess, Ph.D., NIDDK
11:35 a.m. – 11:55 a.m.: Proglucagon Action in the Islet
Jonathan Campbell, Ph.D., Duke University
11:55 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.: Moderated Discussion

12:15 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Lunch Break and Poster Session

12:15 p.m. – 12:50 p.m.: Lunch Break and Poster Setup
12:50 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.: Poster Session
1:50 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.: Break

2:00 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.

Session 3: Pharmacology of Glucagon
Chair: David D’Alessio, M.D., Duke University

2:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.: Physiological and Pharmacological Regulation of Energy Metabolism by Glucagon Receptor Agonism
Timo Müller, Ph.D., Helmholtz Munich
2:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.: The Effect of Pemvidutide on Hepatic Fat Content and Inflammation in Liver Disease
John Suschak, Ph.D., Altimmune
2:40 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Glucagon Receptor Signaling and Glucose Control: Synergism and Antagonism of Insulin and Incretin Actions
Kirk Habegger, Ph.D., University of Alabama at Birmingham
3:00 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.: Moderated Discussion

3:20 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Break

3:30 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.

Session 4: Effects of Glucagon on Systemic Metabolism
Chair: William Holland, Ph.D., University of Utah

3:30 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.: The Mechanism of Glucagon Action on Energy Expenditure
Shingo Kajimura, Ph.D., Harvard Medical School
3:50 p.m. – 4:10 p.m.: The Liver-Alpha Cell Axis in Health and Disease
Nicolai Albrechtsen, M.D., Ph.D., University of Copenhagen
4:10 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.: The liver FOXN3-Glucagon Fasting Metabolic Switch
Amnon Schlegel, Ph.D., University of Utah School of Medicine
4:30 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.: Moderated Discussion

4:50 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Break

5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Guided Discussion/Day 1 Recap

5:30 p.m.

Meeting Adjournment

Day 2: Tuesday, February 10, 2026

8:00 a.m. – 9:20 a.m.

Session 5: Glucagon in Diabetes
Chair: Tricia Tan, M.D., Imperial College London

8:00 a.m. – 8:20 a.m.: The clinical Effects of Glucagon Receptor Blockade in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes
Jeremy Pettus, M.D., University of California, San Diego
8:20 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.: Glucagon Physiology in Pre-Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes
Adrian Vella, M.D., Mayo Clinic, Rochester
8:40 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.: Alpha-Cell Dysfunction in Pancreatogenic Forms of Diabetes
Michael Rickels, M.D., University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
9:00 a.m. – 9:20 a.m.: Moderated Discussion

9:20 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Break

9:30 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.

Session 6: Extrahepatic Physiology of Glucagon
Chair: Tamer Coskun, M.D., Ph.D., Eli Lilly and Company

9:30 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.: Glucagon in Kidney Disease: Emerging Insights and Therapeutic Potential from Bench to Bedside
Victoria Parker, Ph.D., AstraZeneca
9:50 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.: Role of the Alpha-Cell in the Glycemic Benefits of Bariatric Surgery
Bethany Cummings, Ph.D., University of California, Davis
10:10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: The Cardiovascular Actions of Glucagon in Health & Disease
John Ussher, Ph.D., University of Alberta
10:30 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.: Moderated Discussion

10:50 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Break

11:00 a.m. – 11:20 a.m.

Guided Discussion/Day 2 Recap

11:20 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.

Final Discussion, Research Gaps and Opportunities

11:50 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Closing Remarks
William Cefalu, M.D., NIDDK
Maren Laughlin, Ph.D., NIDDK
Albert Hwa, Ph.D., NIDDK
Hanyu (Maggie) Liang, M.D., Ph.D., NIDDK

12:00 p.m.

Meeting Adjournment

Submission Deadline

December 10, 2025

Submitting Abstracts

All abstracts must be submitted via email to Danielle Johnikin at djohnikin@scgcorp.com, with “Abstract- Glucagon Workshop” in the subject line. The abstract submission should be a 1-page Microsoft Word document that does not exceed 250 words (not including the abstract’s title and name and affiliation of all authors).

Presenters are welcome to present abstracts previously presented in other venues.

Download the Abstract Template (DOCX, <1 MB)

Formatting Requirements

Please follow the instructions below to format an abstract. (Note: Submissions will not be edited for spelling or grammar and will be accepted “as is.”)

The abstract should be a Microsoft Word document with 1-inch margins, typed single-spaced, using Times New Roman font; a 12-point font should be used for everything except the title.
The abstract’s title should be typed in Title Case using Bold 16-Point font and clearly represent the nature of the investigation. Do not use subheadings (e.g., Methods, Results) in the body of the abstract.
List the author’s first and last names, degree, affiliation, city, and state. Separate multiple authors with a semicolon and underline the primary author’s name (one primary author per abstract).
Use one blank line between the title and the authors, the authors and the body of the abstract, and between paragraphs.
Please ensure that your abstract is the correct length (no more than 250 words).
Simple tables or graphs may be included; however, the abstract may not be longer than one page, including any tables or graphs.
The abstract file name should follow this format: LastNameOfPresentingAuthor_FirstWordsOfAbstractTitle (e.g., Zucker_Effects).

Travel Awards

A limited number of travel awards are available for students and post-docs. Applicants should submit their CV and abstract to Danielle Johnikin at djohnikin@scgcorp.com and indicate interest in being considered for a travel award. Each award provides $500 towards expenses associated with attending the workshop. The application deadline is November 18, 2025, and notifications will be sent via email in mid-December 2025.

Poster Presentations

Authors are expected to attend the posters during the poster session on Day 1. All presenters must register in advance for the workshop. Posters should be printed before arriving in Bethesda, Maryland. Detailed instructions will be provided one month before the workshop.

Location

The Lister Hill Center (Building 38A)
Bethesda, MD 20894

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Contacts

Program Contact
Hanyu Liang, M.D., Ph.D.
NIDDK

Meeting Logistics
Danielle Johnikin
The Scientific Consulting Group, Inc.

Glucagon Physiology for the 21st Century

Registration

Event Details

Purpose

Meeting Objectives

Background

Planning Committee

Registration Deadline

Important Visitor Information

Event Logistics

Registration

Location

Contacts

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