dkNET community events and announcements in March, 2025

Dear dkNET Community,

dkNET provides updates on activities of interest to the NIDDK-supported community. You could keep up to date on these activities through our Twitter feed @dkNET_info, through our Community Calendar, or through dkNET e-mail list. If you have an event or funding opportunities you'd like to advertise, please contact us info_at_dknet.org.

dkNET News

• Upcoming dkNET Webinars: Join us for dkNET webinars (1) Building Knowledge Graphs Towards Transparent Biomedical AI, presented by Dr. Jie Liu on Friday, March 14, 2025, 11 am - 12 pm PT. (2)Using knowledge graphs within biomedical knowledge portals: The Biomedical Translator and the Common Fund Knowledge Center, presented by Dr. Jason Flannick, on Friday, April 11, 2025, 11 am - 12 pm PT. More information: https://dknet.org/about/webinar

• dkNET Summer of Data Student Program: Calling all students in NIDDK relevant disease research fields! Ready to explore data management, FAIR data, rigor and reproducibility, and data sciences? The dkNET Summer of Data program offers training to boost your research skills. Application deadline: April 14, 2025. More information: https://dknet.org/about/Summer-Program
   

Events in March 2025

Mar. 03, 2025

Abstract Submission Due: NMRI Annual Workshop 2025

The NMRI is a network that is “owned” by its members and supported by NIDDK. Its success begins with the dedication of senior investigator s to mentor and serve as role models for junior investigators and continues with the participation of active members and the recruitment of new member s. More than 600 researchers have participated in NMRI workshops in the pas t decade, and that number continues to grow. Workshop dates: April 7-9, 2025.  Registration deadline: March 17, 2025.

Location:  Bethesda, MD, USA

More information: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/news/meetings-workshops/2025/nmri-annual- workshop-2025

Mar. 13-14, 2025

NIDDK New PI Workshop

The purpose of the NIDDK New PI Workshop is to provide first-time NIDDK R01 principal investigators with the information they will need to be successful in securing continued support for their research programs at this critical juncture in their career. The meeting will also provide a networking forum for the new investigators to interact with NIDDK Program and Review staff, with mid-career NIDDK-funded investigators, and with each other (peer to peer). Participation in the workshop is by invitation only.

Location:  Rockville, MD, USA

More information: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/news/meetings-workshops/2025/new-pi-workshop-2025

Mar. 14, 2025

dkNET Webinar: Building Knowledge Graphs Towards Transparent Biomedical AI

Join dkNET Webinar on Friday, March 14, 2025, 11 am - 12 pm PT

Presenter: Jie Liu, PhD, Associate Professor, Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, Computer Science and Engineering, University of Michigan

Abstract

Knowledge graphs have recently emerged as a powerful data structure to organize biomedical knowledge with explicit representation of nodes and edges. The knowledge representation is in a machine-learning ready format and supports explainable AI models. In this talk, I will describe several knowledge graphs built in m y lab or in a larger team, including Genomic Knowledge Base (GenomicKB,  https://gkb.dcmb.med.umich.edu), Genomic Literature Knowledge Base (GLKB, https://glkb.dcmb.med.umich. edu/), and PanKgraph, the knowledge graph within the PanKbase project (https://pankgraph.org/). I will focus on the scope of these knowledge graphs as well as how the y support transparent and explainable AI, including using them in machine learning tasks, reducing hallucination of large language models (LLM), an d helping experimental scientists explore their data for scientific discoveries.

The top 3 key questions that PanKgraph can answer:

1. Which genes are highly expressed in specific tissues (e.g., pancreatic islets) and have known functional roles in T1D?

• Explanation: The scRNAseq expression data allows researchers to filter genes that show high tissue specificity in T1D-relevant organs.

2. How do SNP s influence quantitative trait loci (QTLs) of specific genes (e.g., CFTR) in specific tissues (e.g., pancreatic islets)?

• Explanation: This question helps in understanding how genetic variations regulate gene expression in disease-relevant tissues, leveraging QTL and fine-mapped eQTL data.

3. What are the most studied genes related to critic al T1D-related pathways (e.g., TCR signal processing)?

Explanation: By integrating pathway annotations and literature references, PanKGraph can highlight top genes studied in T1D-relevant signaling pathways, helping researchers prioritize targets for further investigation.

Dial-in Information: https://uc health.zoom.us/meeting/register/WO9DXVa3R12eVaaKsM9Gkg

More information: https://dknet.org/about /blog/2821

Mar. 16-21, 2025

GRC Conference -IGF and Insulin System in Physiology and Disease: The Antagonistic Pleiotropy of IGF-1 and its Interactions with Insulin

The "IGF and Insulin System in Physiology and Disease Conference" convenes a diverse group of international researchers committed to advancing our understanding of the IGF axis's role in health and disease. Our program showcases a blend of emerging talents and renowned experts in the IGF field, featuring discussion leaders and presenters from institutions and organizations worldwide. This conference is designed to cultivate an interactive atmosphere conducive to deep discussions, the exchange of novel idea s, and the initiation of groundbreaking research collaborations. Participants will have the exceptional opportunity to partake in stimulating sessions, gaining access to groundbreaking, yet-to-be-published research that is at the forefront of the IGF and insulin fields.

Location:  Ventura, CA, USA

More information: https://www.grc.org/igf-and-insulin-system-in-physiology-and-d isease-conference/2025/

Mar. 17, 2025

NIDDK Workshop Registration Due: NMRI Annual Workshop 2025

The NMRI is a network that is “owned” by its members and supported by NIDDK. Its success begins with the dedication of senior investigator s to mentor and serve as role models for junior investigators and continues with the participation of active members and the recruitment of new member s. More than 600 researchers have participated in NMRI workshops in the pas t decade, and that number continues to grow. Workshop dates: April 7-9, 2 025. 

Location:  Bethesda, MD, USA

More information: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/new s/meetings-workshops/2025/nmri-annual-workshop-2025

Mar. 25-26, 2025

NIDDK Workshop (Virtual): Addressing Gaps, Challenges, and Opport unities Related to Data and Metadata Standards for NIDDK Research Priorities

Community-adopted data and metadata standards are crucial for effective data sharing and integration across various domains. Data standards and ontologies for clinical and laboratory observations enable integration of clinical results for improved care and clinical research. However, disease specific measures in clinical studies are often varied in data col lections, data specifications, and data representations, which create challenges for integrated secondary data analyses. To address these challenges, NIDDK is organizing a workshop aimed at identifying gaps, challenges, and opportunities related to data and metadata standards for data types re levant to NIDDK research mission areas.

We are bringing together experts from industry, academia, regulatory bodies, and other fields who specialize in research related to diabetes, obesity, nutrition, liver, digestive and kidney diseases. While the initial focus will be on data and metadata from Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM), other wearable devices, DEX A scans, diet and nutrition, physical activity, urodynamic testing, and related measures (such as fatty liver and kidney disease), the discussion will also explore additional topics as the panel sees fit. The primary goa l is to identify and address the current gaps, challenges, and opportunities in these areas.

More information: https://www.niddk.n ih.gov/news/meetings-workshops/2025/data-standards-2025

Mar. 27, 2025

NIDDK Central Repository Webinar Series "Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals"

This session is geared towards researchers interested in learning about artificial intelligence, including:

• AI Demystified
• What is Data Science?
• Data Science versus AI
• What is AI?
• Demystifying How Machines Learn
• A Brief History of AI
• AI in Action
• AI Approaches and Examples
• Responsible AI
• AI Operations
• Data Science Processes
• Enterprise AI Operations
• AI Implementations

This session will feature presentations by experts in data science at the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR) 4.0 Data Science Learning Program.

More information:  https://repository.niddk.nih.gov/pages/webinars

Mar. 27, 2025

HIRN Webinar: Identification of Unique Cell Type Responses in Pancreatic Islets to Stress

Identification of Unique Cell Type Responses in Pancreatic Islets to Stress
Date: March 27, 2025

Time: 1:00 PM Eastern (10:00 AM Pacific)

Duration: 1 hour

Presentation by: Marlie Maestas, PhD Candi date, Washington Univ. School of Medicine

Topics to be discussed:

• Analysis of single-cell sequencing of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and inflammatory stressed primary human islets
• Unique Islet Cell type responses identified
• Exocrine and endocrine tissues have differential responses to stress
• Changes in chromatin accessibility associated with type one diabetes
• CIB1 identified as a key regulator of islet function and stress response

Registration: 
https://cityofho pe.zoom.us/meeting/register/xxYYusidQfq3k19SZW3Fig#/registration

More information:  https://dknet.org/about/dknetnews/2824

Funding Opportunities Information and Deadlines in March 2025

Mar. 12, 2025

The Innovative Science Accelerator (ISAC) Award Application Due

ISAC Award is Seed funding for exceptionally innovative, disruptive (high-risk/high-reward) research relevant to KUH communities that has the potential to lead to groundbreaking or paradigm-shifting results that will change the field. ISAC awards are NOT Pilot & Feasibility projects for the generation of more preliminary data for traditional NIH applications (e.g., R01). Non-responsive applications will not be reviewed or funded. All awardees will have at least one virtual "check-in" with members of the ISAC coordinating team to assess productivity and discuss novel ways to effectively communicate your breakthrough discovery and share validated data and resources. Three-page applications may request up to $100,000 (direct + indirect costs) Total Costs for one year.

More information:

 https://www.isac-kuh.org/shared/fundingPrograms.aspx