Lipid Droplets: From Mechanisms to Disease

This 10th conference on Lipid Droplets is the premier forum for the latest discoveries in this unique field, fostering collaboration and inspiring innovation among scientists at all career stages. As key organelles in lipid metabolism, lipid droplets play essential roles in energy storage and cellular function. Dysregulation of these structures is implicated in numerous diseases, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, liver disease, atherosclerosis, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders. It will discuss fundamental and translational research, facilitating collaborations that drive innovation and discovery.

This year’s program will highlight cutting-edge advances in lipid droplet biology, spanning fundamental mechanisms to their roles in disease. Sessions will cover emerging technologies for lipid measurement, lipid droplet biogenesis and turnover, metabolic regulation, and the impact of lipid droplets on cellular and tissue physiology. Through engaging discussions and presentations, attendees will gain new insights into how lipid droplets contribute to health and disease and explore potential therapeutic strategies targeting lipid metabolism.

This conference will take place alongside Phospholipids in Aging and Disease, providing opportunities for cross-disciplinary discussions.

Attendees will learn about:

· Insights into newly identified lipid droplet-associated proteins and their roles in metabolism and disease.

· Advanced imaging and analytical techniques for lipid droplet characterization at the molecular level.

· The mechanistic links between lipid droplet dysfunction and metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes and neurodegeneration.

· Novel lipid-based therapeutic targets for metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.

Program Topics

· Emerging methods for lipid measurements

· Lipid droplet biogenesis, turnover, and dynamics

· Lipid droplet compositional and functional diversity

· Sex-based differences in lipid metabolism and LDs

· LDs in neurological diseases and beyond

· LDs in cell and tissue physiology

· Lipid trafficking at membrane contact sites

Workshops

Meet the Expert sessions, held jointly with Phospholipids in Aging and Disease, will feature discussions on “Women in Science” and “New Methods to Study Lipids,” among others.

A Career Development Workshop will feature a panel of experts from academia, industry, and publishing, discussing skills development and navigating career paths. The Q&A format will provide practical and professional advice for students and early-career researchers.