Bjornstad is a pediatric endocrinologist who originally trained in Ireland, receiving his medical degree from the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin. He completed an initial residency in internal medicine and pediatrics in Dublin before moving to Colorado for additional training in pediatrics and pediatric endocrinology at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, where he is currently an associate professor in pediatrics and medicine. He leads an exceptional bench to bedside research program with an international reputation for innovation exploring the pathophysiologic underpinnings of diabetic kidney disease and optimal treatment strategies to prevent the complications of diabetes across the lifespan. He also brings a large clinical research program to the Diabetes Institute, including clinical studies in adults, adolescents and children with diabetes. He serves on multiple steering committees for large collaborative, industry sponsored studies aimed to advance clinical treatment and prevention of diabetic kidney diseases. He has received multiple honors recognizing his pivotal contributions including the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Diabetes Care Distinguished Reviewer and Presidents' Select Abstract awards, American Society of Clinical Investigation Young Physician Scientist Award, and the JDRF Dr. Robert Goldstein Award. He has mentored over 40 trainees, and is already collaborating with investigators at the University of Washington.

Associate Professor Melinda Coughlan is Head of the Glycation, Nutrition & Metabolism laboratory within the Department of Diabetes, School of Translational Medicine, Monash University. She studied Biology and Nutrition before obtaining a PhD from The University of Melbourne. Dr Coughlan completed postdoctoral training at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, before moving her lab to Monash University in 2016. Her research focuses on gaining an understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving the development of diabetic kidney disease and discovering novel therapeutic targets. Associate Professor Coughlan has authored >90 peer-reviewed manuscripts and contributes to the discipline through her role as Council Member of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology and Editorial Board member of the journal Diabetes.

Associate Professor Drew is an NHMRC L1 Investigator Fellow and prior NHF Future Leader Fellow. He is head of the Molecular Metabolism and Ageing Laboratory at the Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute, where he also leads the Obesity & Lipid Program. He leads a team of >15 researchers that engages in cutting edge technologies including systems genetics and CRISPR, to identify novel therapies and diagnostics for cardiometabolic disease. His lab has secured >$10M in competitive funding, with his work being published in many leading journals including Nature, Cell Metabolism, Science Transl Med, Nature Commun, Nature Metab, Nature CVR and more.

Professor Grant Morahan has a doctorate from the University of Melbourne and worked as a Fogarty Fellow at Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, USA. In 2005, he was appointed Inaugural Diabetes Research Foundation Professor at the University of Western Australia, and Director of the Centre for Diabetes Research at Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Perth. He is also a Joint Professor at the Chinese Academy of Medical Science’s Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences in Beijing and an Honorary Professor at the University of Melbourne. His research has included genetics of complex diseases, genetics of type 1 diabetes in humans and in animal models; systems genetics, application of advanced genetic technologies and genetic prediction of disease outcomes. This work has resulted in over 290 papers, including 22 in leading journals such as Nature, Science, Lancet, Nature Genetics, PNAS, etc. Prof Morahan has also developed the next-generation genetic resource, The Gene Mine, the most powerful of its type in the world, used globally in rapid mapping and identification of genes. Prof Morahan also established the company Advanced Genetic Diagnostics Pty Ltd (AGD). AGD has developed genetic tests that can predict a person's risk of diseases, including diabetic complications, heart attack, stroke and heart failure.

Dr Keshvari is a postdoctoral research officer at Mater Research Institute-UQ. Her main research interest is to investigate the role of macrophages in metabolic disorders including acute and chronic liver diseases, obesity and type 2 diabetes. She was awarded her PhD titled “characterisation of two receptors for adiponectin” in 2016 and received the “2016 Dean’s Award for Outstanding Higher Degree by Research Theses”. Her current project is focused on the beneficial effect of macrophage colony stimulating factor on resolving liver fibrosis and promoting liver regeneration and the role of macrophages on metabolic regulation in fat and endocrine system including pancreas.

Dr Vance Matthews is the Head of 'The Dobney Hypertension Centre' Translational Sciences Laboratory at the University of Western Australia. He has published >100 peer-reviewed papers during his career (24 of which were as first author and 29 of which were as last author).