Dr. Huixia Ren, a Junior Investigator at Chinese Institutes for Medical Research, Beijing (CIMR), has been invited by the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) to participate in the 2026 Hypoglycemia & Diabetes Course, scheduled from June 10 to 17. This event will bring together researchers from leading institutions worldwide to engage in in-depth academic exchanges on the fundamental research and clinical applications in the field of hypoglycemia and diabetes.

 

 

CSHL is renowned as the "Mecca of Molecular Biology." Its summer school, with a history spanning nearly 80 years, has evolved from its initial focus on phage courses to a comprehensive advanced training system covering all areas of life sciences. The program has produced 16 Nobel laureates and has had 21 Nobel laureates serve as faculty members.

 

CSHL 2026 Hypoglycemia & Diabetes Course will be held at the Banbury Conference Center, located on the north shore of Long Island, NY, USA. Since 1978, the Banbury Conference Center has been a key venue for high-level courses and international conferences in biomedicine, known for its intensive and rigorous academic training.

 

 

The summer school will delve into the core scientific issues surrounding hypoglycemia and diabetes, addressing the short- and long-term health threats posed by these conditions. The curriculum will cover the foundational theories, recent research advancements, and clinical application gaps in the field, aiming to bridge the gap between basic research and clinical practice and promote interdisciplinary collaboration. The course organizers are Professors Shareen Forbes from the University of Edinburgh, David Piston from Washington University in St. Louis, and Patrik Rorsman from the University of Oxford. Dr. Huixia Ren will join 14 other experts from prestigious institutions such as the University of Michigan, the University of Cambridge, and the Joslin Diabetes Center as invited speakers.

 

The course will combine formal lectures with informal discussions, covering six core themes: Overview, Patient Perspectives, Clinical Testing, Animal Models and Physiology, Cellular Mechanisms, and Experimental Design. A key focus will be on the role of glucagon dysregulation in diabetes and the potential of this counter-regulatory hormone as a novel therapeutic target. The course is open to medical students, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty members from around the world.

 

As the first new research institution in the Beijing education system and one of the three major components of the new campus of Capital Medical University (CMU), CIMR is also designated as the "Basic Research Training Base" for physician-scientists in Beijing. CIMR aims to advance medical science, improve human health, and enhance the innovation and translation of medical research. It seeks to integrate world-class scientists with the high-quality resources of CMU to create a multidisciplinary research platform. Through a combination of free exploration, medically oriented research, and organized scientific endeavors, CIMR aims to cultivate outstanding talent and promote the deep integration of medical education, research, and industry, supporting CMU's goal of becoming a world-class medical university.

 

 

Dr. Huixia Ren has dedicated her career to studying the structure and physiological functions of the pancreatic islets, with a particular focus on the mechanisms of glucose-stimulated calcium activation and the release of hormones such as glucagon, somatostatin, and insulin. Her research addresses metabolic stress-induced diseases like diabetes and obesity, using a multidisciplinary approach that combines mathematical modeling and biological experiments. Her team has discovered that the rhythmic oscillations in pancreatic islets are driven by the interaction between delta and alpha cells. They have also developed real-time imaging techniques for in vivo islet activity and continuous glucose monitoring, revealing that the switch between high and low blood sugar directly regulates islet rhythm and hormone secretion. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms and clinical interventions for hypoglycemia and diabetes.

 

The application deadline for the summer school is March 13, 2026. Applicants should prepare a personal statement and letters of recommendation. Additional materials such as a CV and a scholarship application may be submitted as needed. For detailed information and the application process, visit the official CSHL website: https://meetings.cshl.edu/courses.aspx?course=c-diabetes