October 27 - 29, 2014, Chicago, Illinois
Diabetes and the Microbiome Research Symposium
October 27-29, 2014, Chicago,
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The American Diabetes
Association and the JDRF will convene national
and global research expertise at the Diabetes
and the Microbiome Research Symposium. The microflora that colonize the gut of humans are diverse and numerous,
and their collective genome is referred to as the microbiome. The composition of gut microflora is
established within the first 2-3 years of life and is generally considered to
be beneficial to the host, providing protection from colonization by pathogenic
bacteria, metabolism of indigestible components of the diet, and modulating
development and regulation of the immune system.
More recently, the microbiome
has been increasingly recognized as a key component of host metabolic and
immunologic function. The composition of
the microflora can change or be manipulated (intentionally or unintentionally)
by a number of factors including diet, prebiotics, probiotics, and antibiotics
and other pharmaceutical agents. Changes
in the microbiome can subsequently modulate overall inflammatory state and
metabolic function in the host. For
example, changes in the composition of gut microflora are associated with
obesity and diabetes, and it has been demonstrated that intentional
colonization of animal models with microflora of a particular composition can
result in changes in inflammatory and metabolic status. Similarly, the microbiome composition of
individuals at-risk for type 1 diabetes is distinct from that of unaffected
individuals, suggesting that there may be a link between the microbiome and the
development of autoimmunity.
While these observations clearly associate the composition of
the microbiome to changes in host metabolic and immune status, the mechanisms
by which these functional changes occur remain relatively unclear. It has been hypothesized that the microbiome
may function by influencing fatty acid or carbohydrate metabolism, gut hormone
concentrations, inflammatory pathway signaling, intestinal permeability,
induction of pro-inflammatory states, and/or influencing the function of
metabolically active liver and adipose tissues. The dissection of the relationship between the
host and the microbiome is an exciting new field of research. If the microbiome can be shown to play a
direct and important role in the predisposition for and development of diseases
such as diabetes and obesity, it may also provide potential targets for
treatment and prevention.
In addition to original
research presented during the oral and poster sessions, the program will offer
featured symposia, including lectures by world-renowned leaders in the
field. The activity will focus on
emerging science and the clinical implications of the microbiome in diabetes.
This activity is intended for
scientists, physicians and other healthcare professionals with an interest in
the field of microbiome research and how it relates to the development of
diabetes, as well as diabetes prevention and treatment. It will provide a valuable opportunity for
collaboration with other investigators in the field.
This symposium will address
evidence-based expert opinion on what is known and not known about behavioral
and metabolic systems and what additional research is needed. Upon completion of this activity, the
participants will be able to:
- Cite current research findings regarding
the relationship of the microbiome as a key component of metabolic and
- Discuss the link between the microbiome
and the development of autoimmunity.
- Assess the composition of gut microflora
associated with complications of inflammatory disease, obesity, and
- Apply evidence that indicate the
microbiome has a role in the predisposition for and development of
diabetes to potential targets for treatment and intervention.
CONTACT INFORMATION: Shirley
Ash, 703-549-1500, ext. 2214, firstname.lastname@example.org