2026 Agenda
2027 agenda coming soon!
June 24–27, 2026
#SOLAR2026
Wednesday, June 24
- 6:00pm–8:00pmFaculty Dinner
Thursday, June 25 Day 1 — Obesity
- 7:30am–8:30amBreakfast & Registration
Moderators: Carel le Roux, MD, PhD & Ildiko Lingvay, MD
- 8:30am–8:45amOpening Remarks of the SOLAR ConferenceMazen Noureddin, MD, MHSc
- 8:45am–9:05amState of the Art Lecture: The Evolving Understanding of the Disease of Obesity that is Impacting Clinical TrialsCarel le Roux MD, PhD
- 9:05am–9:25amWhat did we learn with the STEP and SELECT trials with Semaglutide that changed how we want to do clinical trials now?Domenica Rubino, MD
- 9:25am–9:35amBreak
- 9:35am–9:55amWhat did we learn with the SURMOUNT trials with Tirzepatide that changed how we do clinical trials now?Layla Abushamat, MD
- 9:55am–10:15amWhat did we learn with the new phase 2 and 3 trials with Multihormone Agonists that changed how we want to do clinical trials now?Ildiko Lingvay, MD
- 10:15am–10:25amCDs Abstract of Choice - Efficacy and safety of survodutide for the treatment of obesity in adults without diabetes: primary results from the SYNCHRONIZE®-1 phase 3 trialCarel le Roux, MD, PhD
- 10:25am–10:35amCDs Abstract of Choice - Effect of Enicepatide (CT-388) on Liver Fat in Adults With Obesity, With or Without Type 2 DiabetesAlexandra Steinberg, MD, PhD
- 10:35am–10:55amPanel discussionDomenica Rubino, Dimple Desai, Julia Dunn, Layla Abushamat, Isabel Kloer
- 10:55am–11:00amLunch Pickup Break (Please Return Promptly)
- 11:00am–12:00pmProduct theaterIpsen Pharmaceuticals Product Theater (Lunch) - Cholestatic Liver Diseases: Discover a Treatment Option in PBC & Learn More About PFICNaim Alkhouri, MD, FAASLD, ABOM
Moderators: Raj Vuppalanchi, MD & Lily Dara, MD
- 12:00pm–12:20pmPBC Update: Current Status and Future DirectionsRaj Vuppalanchi, MD
- 12:20pm–12:40pmAutoimmune Hepatitis: An Unmet Need—Promises, Pitfalls, and the Path ForwardLily Dara, MD
- 12:40pm–1:00pmGenetic Liver Diseases 1: What's New in A1AT Deficiency, Wilson Disease, and HemochromatosisKris Kowdley, MD
- 1:00pm–1:20pmGenetic Liver Disease 2: Genetic Cholestasis from PFIC to Alagille Syndrome to BASDWing-Kin Syn, MD
- 1:20pm–1:40pmPanel DiscussionPanel: Kris Kowdley, Wing-Kin Syn, Raj Vuppalanchi, Lily Dara
- 1:40pm–2:00pmBreak
Moderators: Norah Terrault, MD, MPH & Nancy Reau, MD
- 2:00pm–2:20pmPractice Guidelines and Trials Challenges for Chronic HBV and HDV: Are We Moving the Needle?Theo Heller, MD
- 2:20pm–2:40pmUpdate on Clinical Trials of Novel Agents Targeting Functional Cure for HBVNorah Terrault, MD, MPH
- 2:40pm–3:00pmCHB Treatment and HCV Elimination in 2030: Can we Predict the Future?Nancy Reau, MD
- 3:00pm–3:20pmPanel DiscussionPanel: Theo Heller, Nancy Reau, Norah Terrault
- 3:20pm–6:00pmMeetings, Poster Viewing, and Self-Directed Learning
- 6:00pm–8:00pmReception
Friday, June 26 Day 2 — MASH
- 7:30amBreakfast Pickup and take to Ballroom A&B
- 8:00am–9:00amProduct theaterGilead Pharmaceuticals Product Theater (Breakfast)Clinical Insights Into a First-in-Class Treatment for Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC)Kris Kowdley, MD
Moderators: Naim Alkhouri, MD & Manu Chakravarthy, MD, PhD
- 9:00am–9:20amSteatotic Liver Disease in 2026Mazen Noureddin, MD, MHSc
- 9:20am–9:40amResmetirom and Semaglutide are now FDA Approved: What Should Clinicians Do Today?Naim Alkhouri, MD
- 9:40am–10:00amCurrent Update on Phase 3 TrialsAlina Allen, MD
- 10:00am–10:20amPanel DiscussionMazen Noureddin, Alina Allen, Henry Chang
- 10:20am–10:35amBreak
- 10:35am–10:50amRNA Interference and Genetic TherapiesNaga Chalasani, MD
- 10:50am–11:10amPROs in MASH Trials, Which One and How to ImplementZobair Younossi, MD
- 11:10am–11:20amCDs Abstract of Choice – The Disease Severity Index (DSI) from the Oral Cholate Challenge Test (HepQuant DuO®) Defines Varices Risk Across Child-Pugh A5 and A6 and MASH Versus Non-MASH EtiologiesJoanne C. Imperial, MD, FAASLD
- 11:20am–11:30amCDs Abstract of Choice – Miricorilant, a Selective Glucocorticoid Receptor Modulator, Reprograms Hepatic Gene Networks in Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated SteatohepatitisRafael Mayoral Monibas, PhD
- 11:30am–11:50amPanel DiscussionPanel: Becky Taub, Zobair Younossi, Mazen Noureddin, Meena Bansal, Naga Chalasani, Scot Roberts
- 11:50am–12:00pmLunch Pickup Break (Please Return Promptly)
- 12:00pm–1:00pmProduct theaterMadrigal Pharmaceuticals Product Theater (Lunch) - Rezdiffra: Unlocking the Potential of a Liver-Directed TreatmentRashmee Patil, MD & Kris Kowdley, MD, FAASLD
Moderators: Mazen Noureddin, MD & Stuart Kendrick, MD, PhD
- 1:00pm–1:20pmNITs: The Reasonably Likely to Predict Outcomes and the path to full ValidationJörn Schattenberg, MD
- 1:20pm–1:40pmUpdate on the Role of liver biopsy in MASH trials: When do I use it?Cynthia Behling, MD
- 1:40pm–2:00pmDesigning Non-Cirrhotic MASH Trials without Liver Biopsy: Pros & ConsVlad Ratziu, MD
- 2:00pm–2:20pmDesigning Cirrhosis TrialsArun Sanyal, MD
- 2:20pm–2:50pmUpdates on Promising NITs (ProC3, cT1, MASEF score)Manu Chakravarthy, MD, Carlos Duncker, MD, PhD & Frank Amato
- 2:50pm–3:05pmPanel DiscussionPanel: Jörn Schattenberg, Cynthia Behling, Bilal Hameed, Arun Sanyal, Vlad Ratziu
- 3:05pm–6:00pmMeetings, Poster Viewing, and Self-Directed Learning
Saturday, June 27 Day 3 — MASH, MetALD and ALD
- 7:30am–8:30amBreakfast
Moderators: Ramy Younes, MD, PhD & Meena Bansal, MD
- 8:30am–8:50amOvercoming MASH Trials Difficulties, Liver Biopsy, Biomarkers and RetentionRashmee Patil, MD
- 8:50am–9:10amUse of GLP-1 and their Effect in MASH Trials: How to control and mitigate during trialsMeena Bansal, MD
- 9:10am–9:30amWhat is a Stellar MASH Site: The Sponsor's Wish ListMichelle Long, MD
- 9:30am–9:50amPanel DiscussionPanel: Rashmee Patil, Michelle Long, Michael Betel, Lars Hansen, Joseph Galati
- 9:50am–10:10amBreak
Sharks: Mazen Noureddin, Naim Alkhouri, Bill Sibold, Stuart Kendrick, Michelle Long, Manu Chakravarthy
- 10:10am–10:20amPitchKriya
- 10:20am–10:30amSharks
- 10:30am–10:40amPitchHepanova
- 10:40am–10:50amSharks
- 10:50am–11:00amLunch Pickup Break (Please Return Promptly)
- 11:00am–12:00pmProduct theaterBoehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Product Theater (Lunch) - Obesity and its Interplay in Metabolic DysfunctionDonna H. Ryan, MD, Jacqueline Stephens, PhD & Fernando Bril, MD
Moderators: Mazen Noureddin, MD & Brian Lee, MD
- 12:05pm–12:25pmCurrent Update on Clinical Trials for MetALD and ALDNaim Alkhouri, MD
- 12:25pm–12:45pmMetALD and ALD Phase 2 Trials DesignBrian Lee, MD
- 12:45pm–1:05pmMetALD and ALD Phase 3 Trials DesignMazen Noureddin, MD
- 1:05pm–1:25pmPanel DiscussionNaim Alkhouri, Brian Lee, Mazen Noureddin, David Victor, Scot Roberts, Norah Terrault
Moderators: Ashwani Singal, MD & Lisa Boyette, MD, PhD
- 1:25pm–1:45pmHow to Deal with Active Alcohol Intake during the TrialsJessica Mellinger, MD
- 1:45pm–2:05pmNIT in MetALD/ALD: The Reasonably Likely to Predict OutcomesAshwani Singal, MD
- 2:05pm–2:25pmSites Challenges in MetALD and ALD trials (Sites vs Sponsors Perspective (10 min each)Nikhil Vergis, MD (Sponsor) & Bilal Hameed, MD (Site)
- 2:25pm–2:35pmCDs Abstract of Choice – Changes in Liver Fibrosis Following 24 Weeks of Pemvidutide Treatment in Patients with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis: Quantitative Digital Pathology Analysis from the IMPACT Phase 2b Multicenter Randomized Placebo-Controlled TrialShaheen Tomah, MD
- 2:35pm–2:55pmPanel DiscussionPanel: Ramy Younes, Nikhil Vergis, Manu Chakravarthy, Jessica Mellinger, Bilal Hameed
- 2:55pm–3:10pmBreak
Sharks: Mazen Noureddin, Naim Alkhouri, Nikhil Vergis, Brian Lee, Ramy Younes, David Soergel
- 3:10pm–3:20pmPitchHistoIndexYukti Choudhury, MD
- 3:20pm–3:30pmSharks
- 3:30pm–3:40pmPitchNeuraly
- 3:40pm–3:50pmSharks
- 3:50pm–4:00pmPitchClosing RemarksMazen Noureddin, MD & Naim Alkhouri, MD
- 4:00pm–6:00pmMeetings, Poster Viewing, and Self-Directed Learning
