The 39th Annual Meeting of the Great Lakes Chapter of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (GLC-ASPET) was held at Midwestern University in Downers Grove, Illinois, on June 12, 2026. One hundred and fifty-six pharmacologists, biologists, computer scientists, chemists, clinicians, and students from both academia and the pharmaceutical industry in the Midwest were in attendance. Twenty-eight ASPET members attended, and an additional eight poster winners joined ASPET subsequent to the meeting. Represented institutions included eighteen universities and research institutes, seven pharmaceutical or biotech companies, and two healthcare centers.
The theme of the conference was Advances in GLP-1 Pharmacology: Obesity and Beyond. The keynote speaker was Lorenzo Leggio, MD/PhD, Clinical Director and Senior Investigator of the Translational Addiction Medicine Branch, Joint NIDA/NIAAA Clinical Psychoneuroendocrinology and Neuropsychopharmacology Section at the National Institutes of Health. His presentation was entitled, “From Metabolism to Motivation: Repurposing GLP-1 Therapies for Addictions.” The Main Symposium also featured other nationally and internationally renowned experts in incretin pharmacology. The Main and Young Investigator symposia included presentations that highlighted both fundamental mechanisms and translational applications of incretin-based therapeutics.
Main Symposium speakers included:
- Tamer Coskun, MD, PhD, Vice President—Medical at Eli Lilly and Company, “Development of multifunctional incretins for diabetes and obesity”
- Jonathan Douros, PhD, Senior Scientific Director, Indiana Biosciences Research Institute, “Precision over potency: The role of beta‑arrestins to regulate incretin pharmacology”
- Sarah Stern, PhD, Research Group Leader, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, “Rewiring Appetite: How the brain, hormones, and modern life shape our eating habits”
The Special Symposium featured a presentation by Payal Rana, PhD (AbbVie), who provided an industry perspective titled, “Licensing and acquisition in the obesity drug space: A nonclinical toxicology perspective on due diligence for GLP-1 and next-generation therapeutics.”
The Young Investigator Symposium further highlighted emerging research and clinical perspectives in the field and afforded the opportunity for early-career investigators to share their science.
Speakers in this symposium included:
- Veronica Johnson, MD, Northwestern University, “NuSH-based therapies in obesity management: Efficacy, equity, and the evolving landscape of access”
- Maria Charina Benavidez, MD, Rush University, “Effects of neoadjuvant GLP-1 receptor agonists on weight loss after bariatric surgery”
- Ashlie McCunn, MPH, Loyola University, “Associations between GIP/GLP-1 RA prescriptions and substance use outcomes among patients with OUD and AUD”
- Soumen Bera, PhD, University of Illinois Chicago, “GLP-1 receptor agonism alters growth and therapeutic response in prostate cancer”
In addition to research highlighting advances in incretin biology and GLP-1–based therapeutics, the poster session also featured presentations spanning a wide range of pharmacology subfields. These included studies investigating metabolic disease mechanisms, immune modulation, cancer therapeutics, neuropharmacology, and emerging areas such as computational toxicology and microbiome–host interactions. Posters showcased both the evaluation of novel pharmacological agents and mechanistic studies addressing disease pathophysiology across in vitro, in vivo, and computational models. Trainee contributions were particularly strong across graduate, postdoctoral, and undergraduate levels, reflecting the breadth of training opportunities in the region. A total of 43 posters were presented at this session. As part of the award, all trainees who placed in the poster competition received complimentary ASPET membership, consistent with the Chapter’s mission to promote engagement with ASPET and support trainee development in pharmacology throughout the Midwest.
The Lunch and Learn Career Development session at this year’s meeting continued to provide valuable opportunities for trainees to engage with professionals across multiple sectors of pharmacology and biomedical science. This session brought together mentors from academia, industry, and government, including experts in translational drug development, regulatory science, medical communications, toxicology, and academic research. Trainees were able to gain insight into diverse career paths, ranging from pharmaceutical research and nonclinical safety to scientific writing and program leadership at federal agencies. The inclusion of speakers with experience in drug discovery, regulatory strategy, and interdisciplinary collaboration provided trainees with practical perspectives on career development, as well as opportunities to network and discuss pathways for transitioning into various biomedical professions.
The 39th Annual GLC-ASPET Meeting highlighted the exceptional breadth and impact of pharmacological research across the Midwest, bringing together trainees, faculty, and industry scientists in a collaborative and engaging environment. The program underscored the evolving role of GLP-1–based therapeutics while also showcasing innovative work across diverse areas of pharmacology, from basic mechanistic studies to translational and clinical applications. Importantly, the meeting continued to foster meaningful mentorship, interdisciplinary dialogue, and trainee development through its symposia, poster sessions, and career programming. Collectively, the success of this year’s meeting reflects the strength of the regional pharmacology community and reinforces the Chapter’s commitment to advancing scientific discovery, supporting the next generation of scientists, and promoting engagement with ASPET across the Midwest.
To get more involved in the Great Lakes Chapter, please connect with us through social media LinkedIn, Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook, or contact our GLC president Dr. Marsha Pierce at mpierc1@midwestern.edu.
