Agenda

June 24-27, 2026

Wednesday, June 24

Faculty Dinner

6:00pm - 7:30pm

Thursday, June 25

Breakfast & Registration

7:00am - 8:00am

Session 1: Obesity

Moderators: Carel Le Roux and Ildiko Lingvay

8:00am - 8:10am

Opening Remarks of the SOLAR Conference 

Presented by: Mazen Noureddin, MD, MHSc

8:10am - 8:30am

State of Art Lecture: The evolving understanding of the disease of obesity that is impacting clinical trials?

Presented by: Carel Le Roux MD, PhD

8:30am - 8:45am

Panel discussion

8:45am - 9:05am

What did we learn with the STEP and SELECT trials with semaglutide that changed how we want to do clinical trials now?

Presented by: Dominica Rubino, MD

9:05am - 9:20am

Panel discussion

9:20am - 9:40am

What did we learn with the SURMOUNT trials with tirzepatide that changed how we do clinical trials now?

Presented by: Layla AboShamat, MD

9:40am - 9:55am

Discussion

9:55am - 10:10am

Break

10:10am - 10:35am

What did we learn with the new phase 2 and 3 trials with multihormone agonists that changed how we want to do clinical trials now?

Presented by: Dr Ildiko Lingvay, MD

10:35am - 11:00am

Panel discussion

Panel: Carel Le Roux, Dominica Rubino, Layla AboShamat, Ildiko Lingvay, Dimple Desai, Steve Marso, Julia Dunn, Isabel Kloer, Abd Tahrani

11:00am - 12:00pm

Lunch & CME Symposium or Product Theater (Obesity)

Session 2: Cholestatic Liver Disease / Genetic Liver Disease / and Hepatitis B

Moderators: Raj Vuppalanchi and Lily Dara 

12:00pm - 12:20pm

PBC Update: Current Status and Future Directions 

Presented by: Raj Vuppalanchi, MD

12:20pm - 12:40pm

PSC/AIH/Other Autoimmune Liver Diseases: Novel Agents and Promising Trials

Presented by: Lily Dara, MD

12:40pm - 1:00pm

Genetic Liver Diseases 1: What's New in A1AT Deficiency, Wilson Disease, and Hemochromatosis

Presented by: Chris Kowdley, MD

1:00pm - 1:20pm

Genetic Liver Disease 2: Genetic cholestasis from PFIC to Alagille Syndrome to BASD

Presented by: TBD

1:20pm - 1:40pm

Discussion and Q&A

Panel: Raj Vuppalanchi, Lily Dara, Chris Kowdley

1:40pm - 2:00pm

Practice guidelines and Trials Challenges for Chronic HBV and HDV: Are We Moving the Needle?

Presented by: TBD

2:00pm - 2:20pm

Update on Clinical Trials of Novel Agents Targeting Functional Cure

Presented by: Norah Terrault, MD

2:20pm - 2:40pm

CHB Treatment and HCV Elimination in 2030: Can We Predict the Future?

Presented by: Jordan Feld, MD

2:40pm - 3:00pm

Discussion and Q&A

Panel: Norak Terrault, Jorda, Feld 

3:00pm - 6:00pm

Family and Beach Time!

6:00pm - 7:00pm

Reception

Friday, June 26

Breakfast & Product Theater or CME Symposium

8:30am - 9:15am

Session 3: Clinical & Research Implications in MASH

Moderators: Naim Alkhouri & Kitty Yale

9:30am - 10:00am

The Stephen Harrison State of Art Lecture: MASH in 2026

Presented by: Mazen Noureddin, MD, MHSc

10:00am - 10:20am

Resmetirom and Semaglutide are now FDA Approved: What Should Clinicians Do Today?

Presented by: Naim Alkhouri, MD

10:20am - 10:40am

Current Update on Phase 3 Trials

Presented by: Rohit Loomba, MD

10:40am - 10:55am

Break

10:55am - 11:15am

RNA interference and genetic therapies

Presented by: Naga Chalasani, MD

11:15am - 11:45am

CDs Abstract of Choice

11:45am - 12:15pm

Q&A

12:30pm - 1:30pm

Lunch & CME Symposium or Product Theater 

Session 4: NITs and Trials Design

Moderators: Mazen Noureddin and Stuart Kendrick

1:30pm - 1:50pm

NITs: The Reasonably Likely to Predict Outcomes and the path for full Validation

Presented by: Jorn Schattenberg, MD

1:50pm - 2:10pm

Update on the Role of liver biopsy in MASH trials : When do I use it?

Presented by: Cynthia Behling, MD

2:10pm - 2:30pm

Designing Non-Cirrhotic MASH Trials without Liver Biopsy: Pros & Cons

Presented by: Maru Rinella, MD

2:30pm - 2:50pm

Designing Cirrhosis Trials

Presented by: Arun Sanyal, MD

2:50pm - 3:15pm

Q&A

Panel: Mazen Noureddin, Stuart Kendrick, Jorn Schattenberg, Cynthia Behling, Maru Rinella, Michael Charlton

3:15pm - 6:00pm

Family and Beach Time!

Saturday, June 27

Breakfast & CME or Product Theater 

7:00am - 8:00am

Session 5: Dual Perspectives: Sponsors & Site Exchange

Moderators: Ramy Younes & Alina Allen

8:00am - 8:20am

Overcoming MASH trials difficulties, liver biopsy, biomakers and retention

Presented by: Rashmee Patil, MD

8:20am - 8:40am

Use of GLP-1 and their Effect in MASH Trials: How to control and mitigate during trials

Presented by: Meena Bansal, MD

8:40am - 9:00am

What is a Stellar MASH Site: The Sponsor’s Wish List

Presented by: Michelle Long, MD

9:00am - 9:20am

Q&A

Panel: Ramy Younes, Meena Bansal, Rashmee Patil, Michelle Long, Hank Mansbach, Jason campagna

9:20am - 9:30am

Break

Session 6: Shark Tank: Innovative Biotechs meet KOLs and Big Pharma (MASH)

Sharks: Mazen Noureddin, Naim Alkhouri, Bill Sillbold, Suart Kendrick and Maybe an investor (Brandon to identify)

9:30am - 9:45am

Company 1

—

9:45am - 9:55am

Sharks

—

9:55am - 10:10am

Company 2

—

10:10am - 10:20am

Sharks

—

10:20am - 10:35am

Company 3

—

10:35am - 10:45am

Sharks

—

10:45am - 11:15am

Q&A

—

11:15am - 12:15pm

Lunch & CME Symposium or Product Theater 

Session 7: The Future of MetALD and ALD

Moderators: Brian Lee & Mazen Noureddin

12:15pm - 12:35pm

Current Update on Clinical Trials for MetALD and ALD

Presented by: Naim Alkhouri, MD

12:35pm - 12:55pm

MetALD and ALD Phase 2 Trials Design

Presented by: Brian Lee, MD

12:55pm - 1:15pm

MetALD and ALD Phase 3 Trials Design

Presented by: Mazen Noureddin, MD

1:15pm- 1:30pm

Q&A

Session 8: Dual Perspectives: Sponsors & Sites Exchange

Moderators: Gene Im & Belle Vivica van Rosmalen

1:30pm - 1:45pm

How to Deal with active alcohol intake during the trials

Presented by: Jessican Mellinger 

1:45pm - 2:00pm

NIT in MetALD/ALD: The Reasonably Likely to Predict Outcomes

Presented by: Gene Im

2:00pm - 2:20pm

Sites Challenges in MetALD and ALD trials (Sites vs Sponsors Perspective (10 min each)

Presented by: Nikhil Vergis, MD (sponsor) & Manal Abdelmalek, MD (Site)

2:20pm - 2:40pm

Discussion and Q&A

Panel: Ramy Younes, Nikhil Vergis, Kitty Yale, Belle Vivica van Rosmalen, Maja Thiele

2:40pm - 3:00pm

Break

Session 9: Shark Tank: Innovative Biotechs meet KOLs and Big Pharma (ALD/ MetALD)

Moderators: Sharks: Jane Hsiao, Mazen Noureddin, JP Arab, Nikhil Vergis and Brian Lee

3:00pm - 3:10pm

Company 1

—

3:10pm - 3:20pm

Sharks

—

3:20pm - 3:40pm

Company 2

—

3:40pm - 3:50pm

Sharks

—

4:00pm - 4:15pm

Closing Remarks

By: Mazen Noureddin, MD & Naim Alkhouri, MD

Connecting liver, obesity, and metabolic science to improve patient care.

This conference looks at the bigger picture—how liver disease, obesity, and metabolic dysfunction intertwine. It creates a space where clinicians, researchers, and industry experts can break silos, share insights, and shape the future of care together. By weaving cutting-edge science with real-world clinical strategies, it challenges participants to rethink how breakthroughs move from the lab to the patient.