The discovery of insulin 100 years ago was a true breakthrough and lifesaver in the treatment of people with diabetes. However, despite being around for a century, insulin and other means of treatment, often deployed in a one-size-fits-all manner, still fail to take most people to a level of control that normalises morbidity and mortality. Precision medicine, the tailoring of disease prevention and treatment strategies based on an individual’s genetics and other biomarkers, lifestyle and environment, aims to do just that by helping optimise medical decisions.
As part of the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s precision medicine initiatives, the two-day Future of Precision Medicine Symposium 2021 featured lectures and panel discussions on precision diagnostics, precision prevention, pediatric precision medicine, clinical implementation, health disparities, the power of big data, patient perspectives, and policy and implementation, with a focus on the opportunities and barriers for the implementation of precision medicine in research and practice.
The symposium also celebrated the winners of the 2021 EFSD and Novo Nordisk Foundation Precision Diabetes Medicine Award, which honours innovative research in both clinical and basic science that are likely to minimise the future burden of diabetes.
See the full programme for the Future Precision Medicine Symposium 2021 below, including links to video recordings of the sessions.
Monday, 22 November
Welcome and opening remarks
By Senior Vice President Martin Ridderstråle, the Novo Nordisk Foundation &
President Stefano Del Prato, the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes
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Theme I: Precision prevention
Genetic subclassification of obesity in diabetes prevention
Lecture by Professor Ruth Loos, University of Copenhagen
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Precision nutrition in diabetes prevention and management
Lecture by Professor Eran Segal, Weizmann Institute of Science
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Q&A
Facilitated by Professor Juleen Zierath, Karolinska Institutet
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Theme II: Precision diagnostics
Using genetic aetiology to guide treatment: lessons from monogenic subtypes for precision diabetes
Lecture by Professor Andrew Hattersley, University of Exeter
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Subclassification of diabetes based on genetics
Lecture by Assistant Professor Miriam S. Udler, Harvard Medical School
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Q&A
Facilitated by Professor Jose Florez, Harvard Medical School
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Theme III: Clinical implementation
Beyond genetics: optimization of diabetes therapy
Lecture by Professor Ewan Pearson, University of Dundee
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Q&A
Facilitated by Scientific Director Paul Franks, the Novo Nordisk Foundation
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Theme IV: Pediatric precision medicine
Is there a pediatric endotype in T1D?
Lecture by Director Carla Greenbaum, Benaroya Research Institute
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Precision medicine in early life
Lecture: Associate Professor Marie-France Hivert, Harvard Medical School
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Q&A
Facilitated by Project Director Arne Astrup, the Novo Nordisk Foundation
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Panel discussion: Precision medicine in society: possibilities and challenges
Panelists: Professor Andrew Hattersley, University of Exeter, Professor Chantal Mathieu, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Professor Jose Florez, Harvard Medical School Professor Juleen Zierath, Karolinska Institutet, CEO Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, the Novo Nordisk Foundation
Facilitated by Senior Vice President Martin Ridderstråle, the Novo Nordisk Foundation
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Diabetologia – Precision Publishing in Diabetes
By Editor-in-chief of Diabetologia, Professor Hindrik Mulder, Lund University
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Award Ceremony: THE EFSD and the Novo Nordisk Foundation Precision Diabetes Medicine Award 2021
Opening remarks by chair: President Stefano Del Prato, the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes
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Optimising the timing of infusion set replacement in insulin pump therapy using tissue flow resistance monitoring
Prize Lecture by Professor Thomas Pieber, Medical University of Graz
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Tuesday, 23 November
Theme V: Global partnerships in precision diabetes medicine
The ADA/EASD Precision Medicine in Diabetes Initiative
Lecture by Professor Louis H. Philipson, University of Chicago
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Panel discussion
Panelists: Professor Louis H. Philipson, University of Chicago Professor Maria Gomez, Lund University
Professor Jose Florez, Harvard Medical School
Facilitated by Scientific Director Paul Franks, The Novo Nordisk Foundation
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Theme VI: Diversity and disparity
Introduction to research in Greenland
Lecture by Chief Medical Officer Michael Lynge, Steno Diabetes Center Greenland
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Lessons in precision diabetes medicine from Greenland’s Inuit
Lecture by Professor Torben Hansen, University of Copenhagen
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The many faces of diabetes and why each deserves to be seen
Lecture by Professor Ronald Ma, Chinese University of Hong Kong
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Q&A
Facilitated by Professor Marit Eika Jørgensen, Steno Diabetes Center Greenland
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Theme VII: Strength in numbers
Data lakes, data mountains, and data mining
Lecture by Professor Soren Brunak, University of Copenhagen
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Q&A
Facilitated by Scientific Director Paul Franks, The Novo Nordisk Foundation
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Panel discussion: Precision medicine in society: possibilities and challenges
Panelists: CEO Bettina Lundgren, Danish Genome Center, Professor Daniel Witte, Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus CEO Henrik Ullum, Statens Serum Institut, Professor Maria Gomez, Lund University, Person with diabetes Tina Blichfeldt
Facilitated by Nynne Bjerre Christensen
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Closing remarks
By Professor Michael Roden, Chairperson European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes Scientific Board
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By Senior Vice President Martin Ridderstråle, the Novo Nordisk Foundation
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