The Glycogen Symposium – Honouring the Legacy of Joan Guinovart is a scientific meeting created to celebrate the life and work of Joan J. Guinovart (1947–2025), one of the world’s leading experts in glycogen metabolism. Throughout his career, Joan made fundamental contributions to our understanding of how glycogen is synthesised, regulated, and utilised across tissues, and how its dysfunction contributes to neurological and metabolic disease. He was also a driving force behind the creation of IRB Barcelona, where the symposium will be hosted.
Presentation
In tribute to Joan J. Guinovart's legacy, the symposium brings together researchers whose work reflects and expands upon the scientific areas Joan helped shape. The programme explores the many dimensions of glycogen biology, including:
- regulatory and molecular mechanisms of glycogen synthesis and degradation
- the role of glycogen in the brain and its relevance to neurological health and disease
- glycogen function in skeletal muscle, exercise and metabolic adaptation
- bacterial glycogen metabolism and its evolutionary implications
- glycogen involvement in rare disorders such as Lafora disease
- links between glycogen dysfunction, the central nervous system, and cancer
- interaction between glycogen pathways and ubiquitin-dependent signalling
By gathering leading experts across the field, the symposium offers a day of scientific exchange that reflects the depth, breadth, and inspiration of Joan Guinovart’s legacy.
Format: Auditorium (PCB), or via live-streaming
Time: 9:00 - 17:00
REGISTER HERE (deadline 13 March)
More information here
Programme
IRB Barcelona - 09:00–17:00 CET
Please note: all times and durations are approximate.
Morning Session
09:00 – 09:30 (30 min)
Philip Cohen (University of Dundee)
From glycogen to ubiquitin and back again
09:30 – 10:00 (30 min)
Jordi Duran (Universitat Ramon Llull)
Cell-Type Specific Roles of Brain Glycogen in Physiology and Pathology
10:00 – 10:30 (30 min)
Pascual Sanz (Institute of Biomedicine of Valencia)
Astrocycit glycogenic dysfuntion and its consequences in Lafora disease
10:30 – 10:40 (10 min)
Kit Donohue (Chelsea’s Hope Lafora Children Research Fund)
Joan’s passion regarding Lafora disease; summary of LD before and after Joan
10:50 – 11:20 — Coffee break (30 min)
(as per schedule provided)
Midday Session
11:20 – 11:50 (30 min)
Alan Saltiel (University of California San Diego)
Glycogen and adapting to metabolic stress
11:50 – 12:20 (30 min)
Lykke Sylow (University of Copenhagen)
Glycogen and glucose in motion: the metabolic demands of exercise
12:20 – 12:50 (30 min)
Marcelo Guerin (Institute of Molecular Biology of Barcelona, IBMB-CSIC)
Molecular basis of glycogen metabolism regulation in bacteria
12:50 – 13:20 (30 min)
Kei Sakamoto (University of Copenhagen)
Physiological control of glycogen synthesis and utilization in skeletal muscle –Lessons from Joan Guniovart–
13:30 – 15:00 — Lunch break (90 min)
(as per schedule provided)
Afternoon Session
15:00 – 15:30 (30 min)
David Komander (WEHI)
Ubiquitination of glycogen in cells and tissues
15:30 – 16:00 (30 min)
Matthew Gentry (University of Florida)
Perturbed glycogen metabolism impacts CNS disorders and cancer
16:00 – 16:30 (30 min)
Marc Claret (IDIBAPS)
Glycogen drives the sensory activation of POMC neurons
16:30 - 16:50 (20 min)
Elton Zeqiraj (University of Leeds)
New light on an old problem: Structural insights into glycogen synthase regulation
16:50 – 17:00 (10 min)
Anna DePaoli-Roach (Indiana University School of Medicine)
Scientific cousins; Joan’s glycogen beginnings in the Larner lab
17:00 - 17:15 (15 min)
Q&A section