Professor of Medicine at the Katholieke Universiteit and Chair of Endocrinology at the University Hospital Gasthuisberg Leuven, Belgium Chantal Mathieu is a physician-scientist who has contributed to the field of diabetes and endocrinology through basic and clinical research. Her basic research work focuses on pathogenesis and prevention of type 1 diabetes. Prof. Mathieu’s clinical work involving new products and treatment paradigms in diabetes, such as new insulins, adjunct therapies and diagnosis of gestational diabetes have made her a speaker in international fora. Prof. Mathieu coordinates the European clinical trial network for interventions in type 1 diabetes ‘INNODIA’ and the European project ‘EDENT1FI’ on screening for type 1 diabetes. Prof. Mathieu is president of EASD and vice-president of the European Diabetes Forum.

Associate Professor Emma Hamilton-Williams’ career focuses on understanding how immune tolerance is disrupted leading to the development of type 1 diabetes. She received her PhD from the Australian National University followed by postdoctoral training in Germany and USA. In 2012 she started a laboratory at the University of Queensland where she investigates the gut microbiota as a potential trigger or therapy for type 1 diabetes, as well as developing new immunotherapies for type 1 diabetes. She is Chief Scientific Officer for the ENDIA pregnancy-birth cohort study, which aims to uncover the environmental drivers of type 1 diabetes.

Professor Tom Kay is an endocrinologist and clinical immunologist and is Director of St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research. His interests are in immune mechanisms of type 1 diabetes especially the role of CD8+ T cells and in beta-cell replacement including as Director of the Tom Mandel Islet Transplant Program. He is president-elect of the International Pancreas and Islet Transplant Association. He is the chief investigator on an NHMRC Program Grant and Chair of the Australian Type 1 diabetes Immunotherapy Collaborative.

Glenn Ward is currently Deputy Director of Endocrinology, Head of Diabetes Services, Clinical Consultant in Biochemistry, Head of Endocrine Laboratory, and Islet Transplant Endocrinologist at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne. Past roles include President of ADS, Member of Board of DA National, and Medical Director of Pathology.

Preeti Sharma is a second year PhD student at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research. As a person with type 1 diabetes she has a keen interest in helping better the lives of people with type 1 diabetes which has led her to her current project: Investigating outcomes for Islet allotransplantation in individuals with type 1 diabetes.