Horizons in Metabolism: Cell-Specific Metabolism

Cells have unique metabolic signatures that reflect healthy and diseased states. Accurate analysis of these signatures in living tissues is technically challenging and requires targeted approaches that don’t disrupt metabolism. Overcoming this barrier could revolutionize basic discovery research, as well as diagnostics and treatments for cancer, neurodegenerative disorders and many other diseases.

Horizons in Metabolism: Cell-Specific Metabolism will feature talks at the leading edge of mechanistic single cell metabolism research with an eye toward technology development and clinical implications. The symposium will focus on big questions, explore the latest research and provide ample opportunities for networking. 

For questions or to be added to our email list, please contact Courtney Zirkle.

The program is in development. Stay tuned!

Poster abstracts may be submitted during registration. The deadline to submit your abstract is May 22, 2026. For questions or to be added to our email list, please contact Courtney Zirkle.

Eligibility
Students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty and research staff are welcome to submit an abstract. If the number of submitted poster abstracts exceeds the space, the organizers will select the abstracts that are most relevant to the conference theme.

Abstract format
Submitted abstracts should represent original research. The title should be brief and descriptive, and the body should include rationale, methods and results. Please prepare abstracts using the below template.

Abstract submission
Poster abstracts should be submitted during the registration process.

Questions?
Questions regarding abstract submission, posters or the poster session can be directed to Courtney Zirkle.

TITLE OF ABSTRACT IN ALL CAPS (STYLE = TITLE)

Presenting Author^1,2, Other Author¹, and Last Author^1,3(Style = Authors)

¹First Dept., Institution, City, State, Country, ²Second Dept., Institution, City, State, Country, and ³Last Dept., Institution, City, State, Country (Style = Affiliations)

Body of abstract using 300 words or less. Define each abbreviation at first use. All fonts should be Arial, 11 pt. and text should be single-spaced. Once you have filled in this template, choose File>Save As and save your file as a Word document (.doc or .docx) with the filename lastname_abstract. (Style = Body)

EXAMPLE

A NEW PIPELINE FOR SINGLE-CELL METABOLIC ANALYSIS

Jane Smith¹

¹Department of Metabolism and Nutritional Programming, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, United States

Technological advances have spurred development of new single-cell metabolomics techniques. Here we describe a new pipeline…

When is Horizons in Metabolism: Cell-Specific Metabolism? How much does it cost?
Horizons in Metabolism: Cell-Specific Metabolism will take place June 2, 2026.

• $50 for trainees (graduate students and postdoctoral fellows)
• $100 for non-trainees

What if I need other accommodations?
Please contact Courtney Zirkle to discuss any special accommodation needs.

How do I become a sponsor?
Please contact Courtney Zirkle for more information on sponsorship opportunities.

Important Deadlines

• Abstract Submission Deadline: May 22, 2026
• Registration Deadline: May 22, 2026
• Refund Deadline: May 25, 2026

What is the refund policy?
Refund requests must be made in writing to Horizons in Metabolism: Cell-Specific Metabolism by May 22, 2026. After May 22, refund requests will not be honored. If you are not able to attend, a substitute may attend in your place. The name and email address of the substitute must be emailed to Courtney Zirkle prior to May 25, 2026.

How do I get to VAI?
Van Andel Institute is located in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is approximately 20 minutes from the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. VAI is conveniently located within walking distance of multiple local hotels. Lyft, Uber and taxi services are available in Grand Rapids.

Looking for accommodations? Here are some close suggestions:
Amway Grand Plaza, Curio Collection by Hilton – 187 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Distance to VAI: 0.6 miles

JW Marriott Grand Rapids – 235 Louis St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Distance to VAI: 0.7 miles

AC Hotel – 50 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Distance to VAI: 0.6 miles

Code of Conduct Guidelines
We are dedicated to providing a harassment-free, non-discriminatory symposium experience for all participants, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, pregnancy, height, weight, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other personal characteristics covered by applicable law. We will not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form. We expect participants at our events to engage in constructive and professional discussions at all times. Harassment can include unwelcomed attention, inappropriate comments or jokes that refer to sexual topics, requests for dates, or other sexual activities as well as the use of language that may demean or degrade individuals. These behaviors are not appropriate for any of our conference venues, including talks, workshops, networking sessions, poster sessions, social networking platforms, and other online media platforms. Any participant violating these guidelines will be removed from the symposium at the discretion of the conference organizers.

Anyone who has experienced the above, or who has witnessed such behavior, should notify Courtney Zirkle. Anonymous reporting may also be done through the EthicsPoint Hotline.