Kroc Symposium 2026

1:30

Welcome & Introductory Remarks

1:35

Akhila Rajan, PhD

Associate Professor, Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutch

Beyond Autophagy: Atg8 in Adipocytes as a Regulator of Leptin Release,
Immunity, and Metabolism

2:05

Laura J. den Hartigh , PhD

Research Associate Professor, UW Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition

Metabolic Impact of Microbial Short-Chain Fatty Acid Signaling In
Adipose Tissue in Obesity

2:35

Rong Tian, MD, PhD

Professor, UW Division of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, & Bioengineering

The Role of Mitochondria in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

3:05

Break

3:20

Kroc Lecture: Zoltan Arany, MD, PhD

Professor of Physiology, University of Pennsylvania

Hepatic Noncanonical mTOR Signaling from MAFLD to HCC