Programme

Join us for the Annual Conference on Sarcopenia, Cachexia, and Wasting Disorders, taking place from December 11-13, 2025. Engage with leading experts and delve into a comprehensive program that spans from revolutionary basic science to transformative clinical trials. This event is a critical platform for showcasing the latest research and advancements, offering multidisciplinary insights into these complex conditions. Register today to contribute to groundbreaking discussions and network with peers.

Exploring Sarcopenia and Cachexia: Multidisciplinary Perspectives

Welcome to the first day of our Annual Conference on Sarcopenia, Cachexia, and Wasting Disorders. Discover world-renowned experts to discuss the latest research and advancements in the field. 

BASIC SCIENCE

Session A

09:30-10:45

Metropolitan ballroom

New and established mouse models for the study of cancer cachexia

Chairs: TBN

Atrophy-independent mechanisms of muscle weakness during ovarian cancer
Christopher Perry, Canada

Bedside to bench: modeling cachexia in different cancer patient trajectories
Fabio Penna, Italy

Mitochondrial dysfunctions in pancreatic cancer cachexia
TBN

New insights on head and neck cancer cachexia
Andrea Bonetto, USA

Chairs & Speakers

Stefan Anker, Germany

Vickie Baracos, Germany

Gianluigi Savarese, Sweden
Daniel Marks, MD, PhD
Daniel Marks, USA
Maurizio Muscaritoli, Italy
Maurizio Muscaritoli, Italy
Stephan von Haehling, Germany

11:00-12:15

METROPOLITAN BALLROOM
BASIC SCIENCE

Session B

The role of the liver in cancer cachexia

Chairs: TBN

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) suppresses hepatic de novo lipogenesis and induces cachexia
Wenwei Hu, USA

Dysfunction of hepatic metabolism in cancer cachexia
Laure Bindels, Belgium

Genomic liver profiling identifies hepatokines promoting tissue wasting in cancer cachexia
Doris Kaltenecker, Germany

Regulation of hepatic amino acid metabolism
TBN

DUPONT BALLROOM
GENERAL CACHEXIA

Session C

Muscle wasting and osteosarcopenia: the role of the immune system

Chairs: TBN

RAGE expressed by myofibers sustains systemic and muscle inflammation
Guglielmo Sorci, Italy

Skeletal muscle aging: the immune landscape
TBN

Targeting muscle and bone marrow fat to treat osteosarcopenia
TBN

The geroscience framework for osteosarcopenia: mechanistic insights and clinical implications
Gustavo Duque, Canada

BREAK

12:15-12:50

Lunch Break

Industry Session

12:00-12:45

Metropolitan ballroom

Keynote Industry Lecture

MRI-based quantification of muscle mass and myosteatosis as biomarkers for clinical trials and sarcopenia assessment
Olof Dahlqvist Leinhard, Sweden

Key Topics Addressed
– Standardization and validation of MRI-based muscle mass and myosteaotosis measurement for use in multi-site clinical trials
– Body size as a major confounder for sarcopenia assessment
– How combined assessment of muscle mass and myosteatosis improves link to outcomes & function
– MRI based muscle assessment as end-point in clinical trials, experiences from recent GLP-1 and neuromuscular dystrophy trials

Supported by AMRA Medical

Opening Session

Session D

13:00-14:00

Metropolitan ballroom

Opening Session

Welcome

“Prometheus” basic science key note lecture: GDF15 from bench to bedside
Samuel Breit, Australia

“Hippocrates” clinical science key note lecture
Aminah Jatoi, USA

JCSM & SCWD lecture

Coffee Break

14:00-14:15

METROPOLITAN BALLROOM

BASIC SCIENCE

Session E

14:15-15:30

Titin and cachexia – organs specific regulation and genetics

Chairs: TBN

The myocardium
TBN

The skeletal muscle
Beatrice Vahle, Germany

The diaphragm
TBN

Titin (and similar) as biomarker
TBN

DUPONT BALLROOM

GENERAL SARCOPENIA

Session F

14:15-15:30

Multidimensional biomarkers of aging: molecular, functional, and social hallmarks of frailty

Chairs: TBN

Physical performance metrics as biomarkers of frailty phenotypes
TBN

Sociobiological pathways linking psychosocial stressors to frailty: social determinants as emerging biomarkers
TBN

Blood-based signatures of frailty
Riccardo Calvani, Italy

GDF-15 as biomarker: state of the art
TBN

Coffee Break

15:30-16:30

WEST END & THOMAS ROOMS

POSTER SESSION

Poster Session 1

15:35-16:25

Poster session 1.1 Cachexia – mechanisms, basic
Posters 1-01 to 1-09 and 1-12
Chairs: Denis Guttridge, Sarah Lockie

Poster session 1.2 Cancer cachexia I
Posters 3-01 to 3-12
Chairs: Andrea Bonetto, Tobias Janowitz

Poster session 1.3 Diagnosis of cachexia
Posters 4-01 to 4-11
Chairs: Yi-Ping Li, Ishan Roy

Poster session 1.4 Muscle wasting & sarcopenia I
Posters 6-01 to 6-08
Chairs: Peggy Cawthon, Bill Evans

Poster session 1.5 Nutrition & appetite
Posters 7-01 to 7-07
Chairs: Adrian Slee, Paula Ravasco

Poster session 1.6 Physical activity & training
Posters 8-01 to 8-06
Chairs: Volker Adams, Julian Alcazar

METROPOLITAN BALLROOM

ABSTRACT SESSION

Rapid Fire Abstracts Session 1

15:35-16:25

Chairs: Mauricio Berriel Diaz, Germany & Andrea Graziani, Italy

Optimization of a mouse model of pancreatic cancer to simulate the human phenotypes of metastasis and cachexia (1-10)
Victoria Spadafora, USA

Differential impact of chemotherapy and cachexia in a preclinical colorectal cancer model: a comparative analysis of 5-FU, paclitaxel, and cisplatin by biological sex (1-11)
Regina Cabrera , USA

Pilot study of urine titin N-fragment in dogs with naturally-occurring cardiac cachexia (1-22) 
Lisa Freeman, USA

Novel genetic variants in DRAIC and RFX3 confer risk for weight loss in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2-01) 
Joe W. Chiles, UK

Mutual de-differentiation of adipocytes and tumor cells in the macroenvironment of pancreatic cancer cachexia (2-09)
Sephora Jean, USA

ASCA101 as innovative multi-target therapeutic drug for cancer cachexia (10-07)
Minhyuk Yun, South Korea

Dual targeting of Y5 and ghrelin receptors: a new strategy for treating cancer cachexia (10-10)
Jenna Hunt, Denmark

Pharmacological inhibition of USP-19 attenuates cancer cachexia-induced muscle atrophy (10-12)
Vignesh Karthikaisamy, Germany

Bimagrumab prevents semaglutide-induced muscle mass loss in diet-induced obese mice (10-13)
Morten Lundh, Denmark

Loss of hindlimb muscle mass does not explain the loss of lean mass in semaglutide-treated mice (10-14)
Takuya Karasawa, USA

16:30-17:45

DUPONT BALLROOM

NUTRITION AND METABOLISM

Session G

Targeting metabolic storm: from nutrients to clinical practice

Chairs: TBN

Protocoled individualised nutrition intervention in advanced cancer: a medical oncology experience
TBN

Nutrition as a co-therapy in pharmacological cancer cachexia trials: a must?
Barry Laird, UK

Sustaining the muscle, sustaining the environment: is plant protein the key?
TBN

New insights into DHA supplementation in breast cancer
Alessio Molfino, Italy

METROPOLITAN BALLROOM

GENERAL SARCOPENIA

Session H

Update on clinical muscle research 2025

Chairs: TBN

What is skeletal muscle quality?
TBN

What is the role of body composition in diagnosing obesity and sarcopenic obesity?
Manfred James Müller, Germany

Is there a “gold standard” method for measuring skeletal muscle mass
Steve Heymsfield, USA

Why do we need muscle / fat biopsies in 2025
TBN

METROPOLITAN BALLROOM

17:45-18:30 SYMPOSIUM

Innovations in cancer cachexia

Moderators: Stefan Anker, Germany & Andrew Coats, Australia

Cancer cachexia: new pharmacological approaches 
Richard Skipworth, UK

Are patients reported outcomes meaningful endpoints in cachexia trials?
Stacie Hudgens, USA

Innovation in cancer cachexia: S-pindolol a new therapeutic approach
Andrew Coats,  Australia

Discussion 

Symposium supported by Actimed Therapeutics

Register Now!

Embrace this opportunity to redefine the field and create lasting impact in the lives of patients worldwide.

Day 2: Friday, 12 December 2025

Comprehensive Exploration of Cancer Cachexia and Aging-Related Sarcopenia

Discover the second day of our programme, dedicated to exploring the complexities of cancer cachexia and aging-related sarcopenia. With a stellar lineup of international experts presenting their latest research and engaging in insightful panel discussions

CAREER CAFÉ

08:00-08:50

Ken Fearon Career Café

(attendance upon application and confirmation)

09:00-10:15

METROPOLITAN BALLROOM

CANCER CACHEXIA

Session I

Cancer cachexia: new insights

Chairs: TBN

Sex differences in the skeletal muscle-aging trajectory of energy metabolism
Jaap Keijer, The Netherlands

The role of the exosome in cancer cachexia
Marilia Seelaender, Brazil

Chronological vs biological age: implications for cachexia
Alessandro Laviano, Italy

Mitochondrial dysfunction in colon cancer: already occurring in the primary-stage to further worsen in liver metastasis
Klaske van Norren, The Netherlands

DUPONT BALLROOM

THERAPEUTICS / GENERAL CACHEXIA

Session J

A short history of trial endpoints that could be approvable for cachexia indications

Chairs: TBN

EORTC QLQ 30 and its physical functioning domain and EORTC-QLQ-C15-PAL
Markus Anker, Germany

EORTC QLQ-CAX24
TBN

Stair Climb Power Test and 6 Minute Walking Test distance
TBN

Morbidity & mortality outcomes
Tim Friede, Germany

Coffee Break

10:15-11:15

WEST END & THOMAS ROOMS

POSTER SESSION

Poster Session 2

10:20-11:10

Poster session 2.1 Cachexia – mechanisms, animal models II
Posters 1-10 to 1-11 and 1-13 to 1-22
Chairs: Denis Guttridge, Sarah Lockie

Poster session 2.2 Cancer cachexia II
Posters 3-34 to 3-42
Chairs: Joanne Reid, Florian Strasser

Poster session 2.3 Diagnosis of sarcopenia I 
Posters 5-05 to 5-12
Chairs: Richard Skipworth, Faisal Beg

Poster session 2.4 Muscle wasting & sarcopenia – mechanisms II
Posters 6-16 to 6-24
Chairs: Peggy Cawthon, Bill Evans

Poster session 2.5 Therapeutic development (clinical)
Posters 9-01 to 9-11
Chairs: Nicholas Brisson, Tobias Winkler

METROPOLITAN BALLROOM

ABSTRACT SESSION

Rapid Fire Abstracts Session 2

10:20-11:10

Chairs: Elke Dworatzek, Germany & Wei Yan, China

Improved immune response and energy metabolism in the C26 tumor-bearing mice exposed to IL4 (3-03)
Giacomo Rubini, Italy

The dynamic role of cardiac-infiltrating neutrophils in pancreatic cancer-induced cardiac dysfunction (3-05)
Aaron Grossberg, USA

Impact of the emerging cancer cachexia-biomarker TIMP-1 on the liver (3-18)
Vanessa Brunner, Germany

Cancer Cachexia epidemiological landscape: lifetime prevalence and severity of cachexia in a population-based longitudinal study (3-21)
Bhumi Bhatt, Canada

Adiposity specific micrornas in cancer patients: analysis of plasma levels according to fat distribution assessed by CT-scan (3-25)
Federica Tambaro, Italy

Increased nivolumab clearance correlates with elevated GDF15 serum levels in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (3-29)
Wouter van de Worp, The Netherlands

Identifying pretreatment blood metabolic markers associated with weight loss in head and neck cancer patients (3-33)
Ronald Eldridge, USA

Practical cancer nutrition, from guidelines to clinical practice: the mypath® project (7-01)
Barry Laird, UK

Differences on the prevalence of anorexia and clinical manifestations in patients with solid and hematological tumors who attend a tertiary care hospital from 2023 to 2024 (7-03)
María del Pilar Milke García, Mexico

Intermittent hypoxic-hyperoxic training during inpatient rehabilitation improves exercise capacity and functional outcome in patients with long COVID: results of a controlled clinical pilot trial (8-06)
Wolfram Doehner, Germany

11:15-12:30

METROPOLITAN BALLROOM

BASIC SCIENCE

Session K

Novel insights into muscle wasting mechanisms

Chairs: TBN

Single-nucleus multi-omics analysis of skeletal muscle atrophy in cancer cachexia
TBN

Tumor-derived ADAMTSL4 drives muscle atrophy and fibrosis in cancer cachexia
Mauricio Berriel Diaz, Germany

BMP signaling and denervation promote muscle wasting in cancer cachexia
Marco Sandri, Italy

The role of skeletal muscle fibrosis in cancer cachexia
Andrew R. Judge, USA

DUPONT BALLROOM

GENERAL CACHEXIA

Session L

Recent advances in cachexia. Research in chronic illness – update 2025

Chairs: TBN

COPD cachexia
Annemie Schols, The Netherlands

CKD cachexia
Angela Wang, Hong Kong

Heart failure with cachexia
TBN

Cancer cachexia
Egidio DelFabbro, USA

Break

12:45-13:30

Lunch Break

symposium

12:45-13:30

METROPOLITAN BALLROOM

GDF-15 inhibition: evolving insights

Chairs: Jeffrey Crawford, USA & Stefan Anker, Germany

Introductory remarks 
Jeffrey Crawford, USA & Stefan Anker, Germany

Biological basis for GDF-15 inhibition 
Danna Breen, USA

Potential therapeutic approaches to inhibiting GDF-15 in cancer cachexia and heart failure 
John Groarke, USA

Q&A

Symposium supported by Pfizer

13:45-15:00

METROPOLITAN BALLROOM

BASIC SCIENCE

Session M

Signaling pathways in cachexia

Chairs: TBN

Emerging signaling mediators in cancer cachexia
Denis Guttridge, USA

The NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway in CKD cachexia
Robert Mak, USA

IL-6 antibody therapy for heart failure
TBN

Immunopathology in COPD cachexia
TBN

DUPONT BALLROOM

GENERAL SARCOPENIA

Session N

GLP1-based therapy and skeletal muscle wasting

Chairs: TBN

Changes to muscle mass during weight cycling
Paul Titchenell, USA

Muscle function during pharmacological and physiological weight loss in humans
Philip Atherton, UK

The effect of GLP-1RA on muscle loss during immobilization
Henning Langer, Germany

Pharmacological improvements in weight regain
David Glass, USA

Coffee Break

15:00-16:00

WEST END & THOMAS ROOMS

POSTER SESSION

Poster Session 3

15:05-15:55

Poster session 3.1 Cachexia – mechanisms, basic
Posters 2-01 to 2-11
Chairs: Nicholas Greene, Andrew Judge

Poster session 3.2 Cancer cachexia III 
Posters 3-13 to 3-23
Chairs: Joanne Reid, Florian Strasser

Poster session 3.3 Diagnosis of sarcopenia II
Posters 5-01 to 5-04 and 5-13 to 5-15
Chairs: Faisal Beg, Richard Skipworth

Poster session 3.4 Muscle wasting & sarcopenia III
Posters 6-25 to 6-32
Chairs: Wolfram Doehner, Sabbah Hussain

Poster session 3.5 Therapeutic development (pre-clinical) I
Posters 10-01 to 10-07
Chairs: Paola Costelli, Jeffrey Crawford

METROPOLITAN BALLROOM

ABSTRACT SESSION

Rapid Fire Abstracts Session 3

15:05-15:55

Chairs: Gustavo Duque, Canada & Reshma Merchant, Singapore

Associations of low lean mass by EWGSOP2, FNIH and EASO/ESPEN and MRI muscle composition with all-cause mortality across BMI classes (5-05)
Jennifer Linge, Sweden

Comparing predictive ability of sarcopenia definitions using muscle ultrasound for clinical outcomes among older inpatients (5-10)
Nicola Merz, Switzerland

Assessing the validity of serological biomarkers in estimating muscle mass: a retrospective cross-sectional NHANES analysis (5-12)
Christian Arias, USA

AMPK in skeletal muscle as a therapeutic target for sarcopenic obesity (6-07)
Haiming Kerr, USA

The role of hepatokines in MASLD associated muscle wasting (6-13)
Amy Rose Fumo, Germany

MyoMed-205 counteracts titin hyper-phosphorylation, muscle dysfunction and atrophy in an animal model of HFpEF (6-14)
Beatrice Vahle, Germany

Angiotensin type 2 receptor deficiency exacerbates physical decline and cardiac muscle wasting in aged mice (6-15)
Michael Abadir, USA

Radiation reduces fibro/adipogenic progenitor-derived follistatin-like 1 to impair myoblast differentiation (6-16)
Cooper Brabrook, Canada

Impact of Ilk1 and Fermt2 AAV-mediated knockdown on sepsis-induced muscle weakness (6-17)
Alexander Pacolet, Belgium

Effect of caffeine consumption in patients undergoing immunotherapy for melanoma and lung cancer (7-06)
Paula Ravasco, Portugal

16:00-17:15

METROPOLITAN BALLROOM

GENERAL SARCOPENIA

Session O

Neuromuscular disorders in the critically ill

Chairs: TBN

Neuromuscular disorders in the ICU in 2025
Joerg Schefold, Switzerland

ICU-acquired weakness: are we creating survivors or victims?
Stefan Schaller, Austria

Critical illness induced muscular disorders: therapeutic potential
Lars Larsson, Sweden

Sarcopenia of uncertain pathogenesis: the case of systemic sclerosis (SSc)
TBN

DUPONT BALLROOM

THERAPEUTICS

Session P

Weight loss drugs and cardiovascular health

Chairs: TBN

GLP1-based therapy and cardiac wasting
Stefan Anker, Germany

Impact of resistance exercise on muscle wasting in obesity therapy
TBN

The Veru experience
Mitch Steiner, USA

The Actimed experience
Andrew Coats, Australia

Break

17:15-17:30

Break

17:30-18:45

METROPOLITAN BALLROOM

BASIC SCIENCE

Session Q

Muscle and aging and disease: organ crosstalk across the life course

Chairs: TBN

Skeletal muscle transcriptome in myogenesis and aging
TBN

Muscle-brain axis, exercise and nutrition
Emanuele Marzetti, Italy

Mechanism regulating energy expenditure and potential role of GDF15
Gregory Steinberg, Canada

Circadian rhythm regulation of cancer cachexia
TBN

DUPONT BALLROOM

GENERAL SARCOPENIA

Session R

Hot issues in clinical research

Chairs: TBN

How to use AI as a tool in cachexia research?
TBN

Panel discussion
22 minutes

Unifying the sarcopenia terminology – primary / secondary / tertiary sarcopenia
TBN

Panel discussion
22 minutes

Register Now!

Embrace this opportunity to redefine the field and create lasting impact in the lives of patients worldwide.

Day 3: Saturday 13 December 2025

Exploring the Intricacies of Muscle Wasting and Microbiome in Cancer Cachexia

Day three of our programme plunges us into the intricacies of muscle wasting and the microbiome’s influence in cancer cachexia. We are pleased to present a distinguished gathering of international experts, eager to share their groundbreaking research and partake in dynamic discussions.

08:00-09:15

METROPOLITAN BALLROOM

AWARD SESSION

Session R

Young Investigators Award Session

Chairs: TBD

DUPONT BALLROOM

BASIC SCIENCE

Session S

Progress in modelling skeletal muscle biology and pathology

Chairs: TBN

A 3D-tissue-engineering toolbox to model skeletal muscle pathology
Pim Pijnappel, The Netherlands

Incorporation of macrophages into engineered skeletal muscle models
TBN

Innervation of 3D cultured skeletal muscle
Anna Urciuolo, Italy 

Role of substrate composition in muscle cell biology
TBN

09:30-10:45

METROPOLITAN BALLROOM

NUTRITION & METABOLISM

Session T

Update on substrates in muscle-wasting conditions

Chairs: TBD

Integrated evaluation of body composition in the oncology setting: paradigm change
David Dias, Portugal

Nutrition, microbiome and cancer response to treatments
Paula Ravasco, Portugal

Immunonutrition in cancer: body of evidence, feasibility and limits
TBN

NutrimiRomics: how close we are?
TBN

DUPONT BALLROOM

GENERAL SARCOPENIA

Session U

Organ and cell crosstalk in cancer cachexia

Chairs: TBN

Contribution of the endothelium to adipose tissue loss in cancer cachexia
Andreas Fischer, Germany

The tumor-bone-muscle axis in cancer cachexia
TBN

The RNA-binding protein HuR impairs adipose tissue anabolism in pancreatic cancer cachexia
Paige Arneson-Wissink, USA

The critical role of the ovary in colorectal cancer and treatment-induced cachexia
James Carson, USA

Coffee Break

10:45-11:45

POSTER SESSION

10:50-11:40

west end & thomas rooms

Poster Session 4

LATE BREAKING

Session V

11:45-13:00

METROPOLITAN BALLROOM

Late Breaking Trials/Science

Chairs: TBN

Break

13:00-13:45

Lunch Break

Symposium

12:45-13:20

METROPOLITAN BALLROOM

Diagnosing and reporting cachexia: Where are we?

Chairs: Stefan Anker, Germany, & Andrew Coats, Australia

How to diagnose cachexia in 2025
Stephan von Haehling, Germany

Cachexia coding: facts, numbers, and challenges 
Mitja Lainscak, Slovenia

How to increase awareness about body wasting and cachexia 
Wolfram Doehner, Germany

Symposium supported by Splošna bolnišnica Murska Sobota

13:45-15:00

METROPOLITAN BALLROOM

THERAPEUTICS

Session W

Cachexia care in the last year of life

Chairs: TBN

Optimising nutrition during systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT)
Alessandro Laviano, Italy

Impact of cachexia on patients and caregivers   – patient perspective
Joanne Reid, UK

Corticosteroids in cachexia care: who, where, when?
TBN

Nutritional impact symptoms: elephants in the room
TBN

DUPONT BALLROOM

THERAPEUTICS

Session X

Novel strategies to address sarcopenia while treating obesity – round table discussion

Chairs: TBN

Myostatin and activin inhibitors as a treatment for sarcopenia in obese patients
Steven Heymsfield, USA

GHSR1a antagonism for sarcopenic obesity
Jose Garcia, USA

Enobosarm
TBN

Impact of the ACTA s-pindolol on muscle mass during and after GLP1-RA therapy
TBN

Targeting mitochondria to prevent sarcopenic obesity
TBN

Regulatory perspective
TBN

Panel discussion
30 minutes

HIGHLIGHTS

15:00-16:00

METROPOLITAN BALLROOM

Highlights Session

Chairs: TBN

Basic Science
TBN

Nutrition
TBN

Sarcopenia
TBN

Cancer Cachexia
TBN

Awards Ceremony

Supporting SCWD's Mission to Advance Medical Research

Our Valued Sponsors 2023

JOIN US FOR THE LEADING INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON CACHEXIA AND SARCOPENIA

More than 58 international speakers in 2024

Subscribe to the SCWD Newsletter

Stay Informed with the Latest Updates and Exclusive Insights!