Deciphering Exocrine and Endocrine Disease Etiologies and Advancing Therapeutic Targets

Since its founding in 2013, the Pancreatic Diseases GRC is the only conference focused on diseases that affect the pancreas and specifically the intersection of exocrine and endocrine interaction and function. The conference fosters informal interactions among attendees and prioritizes time for vibrant discussion after each presentation. The program intentionally includes speakers and discussion leaders from a diverse range of career stages and institutions from around the world, concentrating on the latest developments in the field. Recent years have brought rapid advances in our understanding of pancreas development, tissue injury and repair, and malignant transformation at the single cell level, as well as novel technologies to model these processes in human cells, organoids, and animal models. Clinical and translational studies are revealing clear associations between pancreatic diseases, in particular between diabetes and pancreatic cancer. These studies have identified previously unappreciated signaling and functional links between the various cell types in the pancreas and the plasticity of these cells in response to environmental influences. As a result, these insights are revealing novel molecular targets for the treatment of all pancreatic diseases. The goal of this GRC is to offer insights into the common, divergent, and interdependent biology of exocrine and endocrine pancreas development, function, and dysfunction, which will advance opportunities for intervention in human diseases. This conference is unique in that it convenes experts from all aspects of pancreas biology as well as clinicians working on translational approaches for pancreas diseases including (but not limited to) diabetes, pancreatic cancer, and pancreatitis. This exchange will also foster interdisciplinary approaches and promote the exchange of ideas that can lead to new collaborations and empower young scientists to showcase their work to peers and leaders in the field. The sixth Pancreatic Diseases GRC will focus on understanding the genetic and molecular etiologies of pancreatic diseases and highlight how endocrine and exocrine cells communicate and signal to one another in health and disease. A major thread twill be the role of inflammation and metabolism in organ homeostasis and pathology. An exciting program has been assembled that includes international world-class scientists, thought leaders, and paradigm shifters engaged in research relevant to different aspects of pancreatic diseases. Attendees can expect to learn and discuss novel concepts in pancreatic diseases that might be exploitable for pharmacological and cell-based therapeutic approaches. As with all GRCs, the guiding principle of this conference is the presentation of new, unpublished results and the free, unhampered discussion that follows. Participation of trainees and early stage scientists is highly emphasized, with opportunities for short talks and poster presentations.