dkNET community events and announcements in November, 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

• dkNET Upcoming Webinar: Data-driven Biology with CFDE CONNECT Community of Resources, presented by Dr. Jake Y. Chen, Adjunct Professor of Genetics, Computer Science, and Biomedical Engineering at The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Heersink School of Medicine on Friday, November 21, 2025, 11 am - 12 pm PT. More information: https://dknet.org/about/blog/2873
  

• We're hiring - Postdoc Position: AI/ML and Diabetes Research We are looking for a postdoc researcher with strong expertise in AI/ML to work with the dkNET team (NIDDK Information Network; https://dknet.org/). This position emphasizes independent and collaborative research on developing and integrating AI/ML methodologies into the dkNET’s Computational Core to advance NIDDK’s efforts in applying AI to diabetes research. In addition to conducting research, the postdoc will help coordinate activities for dkNET AI Pilot Program and AI-relevant activities, manage data and computational workflows, and engage with interdisciplinary investigators to support the translation of AI methods into biomedical research. The primary site of this position will be the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) under the supervision of Prof. Wei Wang. More information:
  https://dknet.org/about/positions-available
  

Events in November 2025

Nov. 04-07, 2025

Obesity Week 2025

The preeminent international conference for obesity researchers and clinicians, ObesityWeek® is home to the latest developments in evidence-based obesity science: cutting-edge basic and clinical research, state- of-the-art obesity treatment and prevention, and the latest efforts in advocacy and public policy. Treating obesity requires multi-disciplinary approaches. This is the conference that encompasses the full spectrum of obesity science: from basic science research, to translational research and clinical application, to public policy; from diet, exercise, lifestyle, and psychology to medical and surgical interventions; from pediatric to geriatric to underserved populations. With more than 250 expert speakers presenting the latest research to best practices in clinical care, this conference has it all! ObesityWeek® 2025 will be held November 4-7 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Location:  Atlanta, GA, USA

More information: https://obesityweek.org/

Nov. 12, 2025

Diabetes Research Virtual Seminar Series: Healthcare Biases at the Intersection of Diabetes and Vision Loss

Speaker: Allyson (Ally) S. Hughes, PhD
Assistant Professor of Primary Care
Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine

More information: https://diabetes-virtual-seminar.org/

Nov. 01, 2025

HIRN Funding Opportunity Application Due: HIRN Data Scholars Initiative

The Human Islet Research Network (HIRN) announces a new funding initiative to support the use of existing HIRN datasets and resources to explore unique and innovative hypotheses designed to accelerate breakthroughs and advances in type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. The Human Islet Research Network (HIRN) Data Scholars Award (DSA) Program provides:

• Funding for data-science-centered projects submitted via a streamlined process to the HIRN Human Islet Research Enhancement Center (HIREC). Projects will use existing datasets from HIRN and related T1D partner programs and/or resources to design studies or create resources that are responsive to specific initiatives.

• Opportunities to collaborate with HIRN investigators and efficiently exchange ideas and resources to accelerate innovation in T1D research.
  Depending on the initiative (there are currently two opportunities), awardees will receive either $50,000 or $1,000.

More information: https://hirnetwork.org/datascholars2025

Nov. 14-17, 2025

The 2025 Rachmiel Levine-Arthur Riggs Diabetes Research Symposium

This year’s symposium will highlight the latest developments in type 1 diabetes research and provide opportunity for trainees to present and receive awards.

Location:  Pasadena, MD, USA

More information: https://www.cityofhope.org/research/riggs-institute/dmri-events-education/levine-symposium

Nov. 15-19, 2025

SfN Neuroscience 2025

Each year, scientists from around the world congregate to discover new ideas, share their research, and experience the best the field has to offer. Attend so you can: present research, network with scientists, attend session and events, and browse the exhibit hall.

Join the nearly half a million neuroscientists from around the world who have propelled their careers by presenting an abstract at an SfN annual meeting — the premier global neuroscience event. 

Location:  San Diego, CA, USA

More information: https://www.sfn.org/meetings/neuroscience-2025/

Nov. 20-21, 2025

2025 NIDDK K Awardees Workshop

To facilitate the career development of National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)-supported investigators and help in their transition to independent research careers, the NIDDK is sponsoring a K Awardees' Workshop to be held November 20-21, 2025. Participation in the workshop is by invitation only.

Location:  Rockville, MD, USA

More information: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/news/meetings-workshops/2025/k-awardees-2025

Nov. 21, 2025

dkNET Webinar: Data-driven Biology with CFDE CONNECT Community of Resources

Join dkNET Webinar on Friday, November 21, 2025, 11 am - 12 pm PT

Presenter: Jake Y. Chen, Ph.D., FACMI, FAI MBE, FAMIA

Founding Director, Systems Pharmacology AI Research Center (SPARC);
Triton Endowed Professor of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science;
Adjunct Professor of Genetics, Computer Science, and Biomedica l Engineering;
Director, NIH Common Fund Data Ecosystems (CFDE) Integration and Coordination Center;
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Heersink School of Medicine

Abstract

The rapidly expanding landscape of systems biology presents numerous challenges in data integration, interpretation, and application. This webinar will explore how the NIH Common Fund Data Ecosystems (CFDE) and its CONNECT initiative serve as powerful tools for integrating diverse biological datasets and resources. Highlighting a variety of case studies performed at the AI.MED lab and the new Systems Pharmacology AI Research Center, the presentation will illustrate how CFDE resources can add to existing systems biology ana lysis and drive collaborative data-driven research across data sets and disciplines. By showcasing the potential of CFDE developed at various centers and labs across the CFDE community, this talk will provide attendees with a clear understanding of how they can leverage CFDE to enhance their own research with CFDE resources, fostering a data-driven ecosystem that accelerates discovery and innovation in biomedical science.

The top 3 key questions that the CFDE CONNECT can answer:

1. What are the top 10 genes relevant to a specific signaling pathway associated with a disease?

• Utilize the CFDE Workbench to query gene sets and identify genes enriched in pathways related to diseases such a s diabetes or cancer.
• Employ the GeneSetCart tool to visualize and analyze gene sets across multiple Common Fund programs.

2. Are there omics datasets relevant to a specific disease?

• Access the CFDE Data Resource Portal to discover datasets from various Common Fund programs, including genomics, transcriptomic s, and metabolomics, pertinent to diseases like Alzheimer’s or kidney dis ease.

3. What tests are available for metabolic phenotyping in live mice?

• Explore the CFDE Knowledge Center for curated analyses and tools related to metabolic phenotyping, including protocols and assays developed by programs like MoTrPAC.

More information: https://dknet.org/about/blog/2873



Funding Opportunities Information and Deadlines in November 2025

Nov. 14, 2025

Proposal Submission Due Date: D-Challenge 2025- Data-Driven Discovery in Type 1 Diabetes

The D-Challenge invites both novice and experienced scientists to mine pre-existing datasets, leverage curated bioinformatics resource s, and develop bold new hypotheses for T1D. Participants will have access to high-value resources from leading consortia, including dkNET, the T1D Knowledge Portal, nPOD, PANCREATLAS, HIRN, and more.

Scientists can:

• Identify promising targets from provided datasets and resources
• Explore mechanisms, pathways, and new approaches to T1D pathogenesis
• Pitch their hypothesis to the JDRF T 1D Fund and a panel of expert judges

More information: https://dknet.org/about/blog/2858

Nov. 17, 2025

AUA Funding Opportunity Letter of Intent Due: 2026 Research Scholar Awards

The American Urological Association 2026 Research Scholar Program provides $40,000 per year for one- and two-year mentored training for:( 1) Clinical and postdoctoral fellows who are no more than five years beyond completing a doctorate or residency (2) Early career investigators who are in the first five years after beginning a faculty position. Application Due Date: January 19, 2026.

More information: https://www.auanet.org/research-and-data/research-awards/research-grant-opportunities/research-scholar-awards