The 13th annual Lipids@Wayne Research Symposium will bring together leading scientists, trainees, and regional collaborators to explore the fundamental role of lipids in cell biology, metabolism, aging, and cancer.
This year's program will feature two outstanding external keynote speakers:

Dr. Yusuf A. Hannun (Director, Stony Brook Cancer Center; Vice Dean for Cancer Medicine), who will highlight the central role of sphingolipid signaling in cancer biology and therapy;

Dr. Meng C. Wang (Senior Group Leader, HHMI Janelia Research Campus), who will present pioneering work on lipid-mediated regulation of aging and organismal physiology.

Building on the strong tradition of Lipids@Wayne, the 2026 meeting will place an even greater emphasis on trainee research and career development. The scientific program will include:

• Competitive trainee short talks and poster presentations
• Poster flash talks to showcase emerging work
• Monetary awards for the top oral and poster presentations
• A career development panel spanning academia, industry, and translational science
• Dedicated networking sessions with faculty, keynote speakers, and peers

The theme of this year's symposium centers on fundamental lipid science with strong connections to cancer and aging, highlighting how basic discoveries in lipid metabolism and membrane biology are reshaping our understanding of cell fate, stress responses, and therapeutic vulnerability.

Hosted by Wayne State University, Lipids@Wayne is expanding as a regional hub for lipid research, welcoming participation from investigators and trainees at neighboring institutions across Michigan and the greater midwest region. Our goal is to build a vibrant, collaborative community and to make Lipids@Wayne a premier forum for showcasing the best and most exciting lipid research in the region.