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SCWD 2026 — 19th International Conference

Sarcopenia, Cachexia & Wasting Disorders

  • Washington, DC
  • In person

Join clinicians and researchers in Washington, DC, for three days of scientific exchange on sarcopenia, cachexia and wasting disorders.

Register in person Explore the programme

Speakers on the 2026 programme

  • Teresa ZimmersTeresa ZimmersOHSU
  • Kamyar Kalantar-ZadehKamyar Kalantar-ZadehUCLA · Harbor-UCLA
  • Eric RoelandEric RoelandOHSU
  • Marilia SeelaenderMarilia SeelaenderUniversity of São Paulo
  • Denis GuttridgeDenis GuttridgeMUSC
  • Jeffrey CrawfordJeffrey CrawfordDuke University
  • David GlassDavid GlassRegeneron
  • Dan MarksDan MarksKalohexis
  • Katsu FunaiKatsu FunaiUniversity of Utah
  • Faisal BegFaisal BegSimon Fraser University
  • Gustavo DuqueGustavo DuqueMcGill University
  • Lynda BonewaldLynda BonewaldIndiana University
  • Ed ReznikEd ReznikMemorial Sloan Kettering
  • Stefan AnkerStefan AnkerCharité Berlin
  • Andrew CoatsAndrew CoatsHeart Research Institute
  • Stephan von HaehlingStephan von HaehlingUMG Göttingen
  • Maurizio MuscaritoliMaurizio MuscaritoliSapienza University
  • Ben KirkBen KirkUniversity of Melbourne
All speakers

Previous edition: SCWD 2025, Rome. Washington, DC hosts the 2026 conference.

Inside the 2026 programme

Programme subject to change.
SATURDAY · SESSION 26

GLP-1 therapies & muscle preservation

FRIDAY · SESSION 16

Emerging therapies for cancer cachexia

FRIDAY · SESSION 22

AI & the future of muscle assessment

A global community driving progress

Previous edition: SCWD 2025. Community figures from the conference and abstract submissions.

Participants
400+
Faculty members
100+
Abstracts submitted
220+
Countries
30+

Why attend in person

The 2026 programme is built for exchange: keynotes that bridge laboratory and clinic, discussion time after the talks, poster sessions and dedicated formats for early-career researchers.

  1. Basic science and clinical practice share the stage.

    The Opening Session pairs the “Prometheus” basic science keynote, Denis Guttridge (USA) on cachexia and the immune tumor macroenvironment, with the “Hippocrates” clinical keynote by Jeffrey Crawford (USA): cancer and cachexia, an oncologist’s perspective.

    Thursday, December 10 · 13:00–14:00 · Hall A

  2. Discussion is built into the programme.

    Many sessions close with dedicated discussion time. Poster viewing and rapid-fire abstract sessions run on Thursday and Friday, with posters again on Saturday, and Thursday ends with a welcome reception and joint poster viewing.

    Two halls run in parallel sessions, so you choose your own route through the three days.

    Welcome reception · Thursday, December 10 · 18:45–19:45

  3. A way in for early‑career researchers.

    The Ken Fearon Career Café, Meet the Mentor, opens Friday morning, with attendance upon application and confirmation. Saturday starts with the Young Investigators Award Session. Doctors under 35, scientists, nurses and students register in their own fee category.

    Career Café · Friday, December 11 · 07:00 (to be confirmed)
    Young Investigators Award Session · Saturday, December 12 · 08:00–09:00

The United States Capitol at dawn, Washington, DC Washington, DC
The United States Capitol at dawn. Photo: Architect of the Capitol, public domain.

The people moving the field forward

Researchers and clinicians announced on the 2026 programme, from fundamental discoveries to clinical evidence and emerging therapies.

  • Teresa Zimmers

    Teresa Zimmers

    USA

    OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University

    Thu, Dec 10 · 13:00Chair, Opening Session

  • Kamyar Kalantar-Zadeh

    Kamyar Kalantar-Zadeh

    UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine · Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

    Fri, Dec 11 · 08:30Cachexia in CKD and AKI

  • Eric Roeland

    Eric Roeland

    USA

    OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University

    Fri, Dec 11 · 11:45GDF15 inhibition to reduce cachexia and promote anti-tumor therapy

  • Marilia Seelaender

    Marilia Seelaender

    University of São Paulo · Faculty of Medicine

    Thu, Dec 10 · 08:30Cachexia as multi-organ disease

  • Denis Guttridge

    Denis Guttridge

    USA

    Medical University of South Carolina · Hollings Cancer Center

    Thu, Dec 10 · 13:00“Prometheus” keynote: cachexia and the immune tumor macroenvironment

  • Jeffrey Crawford

    Jeffrey Crawford

    USA

    Duke University School of Medicine · Duke Cancer Institute

    Thu, Dec 10 · 13:00“Hippocrates” keynote: cancer and cachexia, an oncologist’s perspective

  • Stefan Anker

    Stefan Anker

    Germany

    Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin

    Fri, Dec 11 · 11:45Relevant endpoints for clinical trials in cancer cachexia

  • David Glass

    David Glass

    USA

    Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

    Sat, Dec 12 · 10:00Myostatin/activin-pathway combination-therapy trial data

  • Dan Marks

    Dan Marks

    USA

    Kalohexis

    Fri, Dec 11 · 11:45MC3/MC4R inhibition for cachexia

  • Katsu Funai

    Katsu Funai

    USA

    University of Utah

    Thu, Dec 10 · 14:15Sex-dependent decreases in organ weight with GLP-1RA

  • Faisal Beg

    Faisal Beg

    Canada

    Simon Fraser University

    Fri, Dec 11 · 18:00Automated CT/L3-based body composition pipelines and AI-based opportunistic screening

  • Gustavo Duque

    Gustavo Duque

    Canada

    McGill University

    Fri, Dec 11 · 14:15Co-chair, Defining cachexia, sarcopenia, and frailty

  • Lynda Bonewald

    Lynda Bonewald

    USA

    Indiana University School of Medicine

    Sat, Dec 12 · 14:00General bone–muscle crosstalk: mechanisms and implications

  • Ed Reznik

    Ed Reznik

    USA

    Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

    Fri, Dec 11 · 18:00Defining cachexia staging and phenotypes using data from a large health system

  • Andrew Coats

    Andrew Coats

    Australia

    Heart Research Institute, Sydney

    Fri, Dec 11 · 11:45s-pindolol

  • Stephan von Haehling

    Stephan von Haehling

    Germany

    University Medical Center Göttingen

    Fri, Dec 11 · 14:15Secondary sarcopenia in chronic disease: when muscle loss is not just ageing

  • Maurizio Muscaritoli

    Maurizio Muscaritoli

    Italy

    Sapienza University of Rome

    Thu, Dec 10 · 14:15Can high protein diet prevent muscle wasting?

  • Ben Kirk

    Ben Kirk

    Australia

    The University of Melbourne

    Fri, Dec 11 · 14:15The conceptual and operational definition of sarcopenia

Speakers as announced on society-scwd.org. Programme subject to change. Logos identify each speaker’s institution and do not imply sponsorship. Full programme

Bring your questions.
Join the conversation.

Three days in Washington, DC.
Connect the science with the people behind it.

View registration options

Three days. Two scientific tracks.

Explore the 2026 programme.

Sessions, chairs and presentations.
Programme subject to change. All times are local to Washington, DC.

DEC10DAY 1

Thursday, 10 December 2026

TIMEHALL AHALL B
08:30–09:30
SESSION 1 · HALL A · Basic

Epigenetics of sarcopenia and cachexia

Chairs
Brittany Counts, USA; To be announced

View presentations 5 presentations
  • Abnormal DNA methylation and altered transcriptome in muscle five years after critical illnessIlse Vanhorebeek, Belgium
  • Nicholas Greene
    Skeletal muscle methylome-transcriptome disruptions during the onset and progression of colorectal cancer-induced cachexiaNicholas Greene, USA
  • Giuseppina Caretti
    BET inhibitors for sarcopeniaGiuseppina Caretti, Italy
  • Presentation title to be announcedSpeaker to be announced
  • Discussion
SESSION 2 · HALL B · Basic

Kidney, kidney cancer, and cachexia

Chairs
Kamyar Kalantar-Zadeh, USA; To be announced

View presentations 5 presentations
  • Marilia Seelaender
    Cachexia as multi-organ diseaseMarilia Seelaender, Brazil
  • Joanna Lima
    Tracing Early Oncogenic Events in Renal Cancer: Implications for Cachexia and HIF SignalingJoanna Lima, Brazil
  • James Brugarolas
    HIF-2α–driven paraneoplastic syndromes in aggressive kidney cancer: linking PTHrP, hypercalcemia, and cachexiaJames Brugarolas, USA
  • Robert Mak
    The inflammasome connection: NLRP3 at the Crossroads of Cancer and CKD CachexiaRobert Mak, USA
  • Discussion
09:40–10:40
SESSION 3 · HALL A · Basic

Loss of protein quality control in muscle aging and disease

Chairs
Denis Guttridge, USA; To be announced

View presentations 5 presentations
  • Volker Adams
    Protein degradation in disease – insights from human biopsiesVolker Adams, Germany
  • Benjamin Miller
    Protein aggregation in muscle disease and agingBenjamin Miller, USA
  • Tracy Anthony
    Integrated stress response in protein quality control in muscleTracy Anthony, USA
  • Fabio Demontis
    Insolubilome in muscle agingFabio Demontis, USA
  • Discussion
SESSION 4 · HALL B · Basic

Neuromuscular impairments in cachexia and sarcopenia

Chairs
Andrea Bonetto, USA; To be announced

View presentations 5 presentations
  • Joshua Huot
    Impaired motor unit connectivity in cancerJoshua Huot, USA
  • New insights on neuromuscular junction instability with inactivityMarco Narici, Italy
  • Human neuromuscular organoids mimic cancer-induced muscle wastingPietro Chiolerio, Italy
  • Bumsoo Han
    A microphysiological model of muscle denervation in pancreatic cancer cachexiaBumsoo Han, USA
  • Discussion
10:50–11:50
SESSION 5 · HALL A

Connecting geroscience and osteosarcopenia

Chairs
Marco Brotto, USA; Fabrizio Pin, USA

View presentations 5 presentations
  • The role of the ribosomes in muscle and bone healthSpeaker to be announced
  • Targeting optimal recovery in fragility fracture patients with co-existing osteosarcopeniaRonald Man Yeung Wong, Hong Kong
  • Gustavo Duque
    Tryptophan metabolites as regulators of bone and muscle healthGustavo Duque, Canada
  • Stem cell exhaustion in osteosarcopeniaSpeaker to be announced
  • Discussion
SESSION 6 · HALL B · Basic

Systems biology of cachexia

Chairs
Mauricio Berriel Diaz, Germany; Erin Talbert, USA

View presentations 5 presentations
  • Cross-study meta-analysis of the cancer cachexia transcriptomeYoshiaki Tanaka, Canada
  • Dr. Min Deng
    Functional interrogation of the pancreatic cancer cachexia secretomeDr. Min Deng, NorwayResearcher, Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital
  • Cachexia multi-ome analysis reveals early perturbations in adipose tissueHonglei Ji, Germany
  • Laure Bindels
    The gut microbiome and cancer cachexiaLaure Bindels, Belgium
  • Discussion
12:00–12:50

Lunch break

13:00–14:00
SESSION 7 · HALL A

Opening session

Chairs
Teresa Zimmers, USA; Stefan Anker, Germany

View presentations 4 presentations
  • WelcomeTo be announced
  • Denis Guttridge
    “Prometheus” basic science keynote lecture · Cachexia and the immune tumor macroenvironmentDenis Guttridge, USA
  • Jeffrey Crawford
    “Hippocrates” clinical science keynote lecture · Cancer and cachexia: an oncologist’s perspectiveJeffrey Crawford, USA
  • Stephan von Haehling
    JCSM UpdateStephan von Haehling, Germany
14:15–15:30
SESSION 8 · HALL A · Sarcopenia / Clinical

Multi-organ wasting during incretin treatment

Chairs
Andrew Coats, Australia; Javed Butler, USA

Panelists
Giuseppe Rosano, UK; David Glass, USA; Stefan Anker, Germany

View presentations 6 presentations
  • Jennifer Linge
    Skeletal muscle loss during GLP-1RA based therapies: size of the problem?Jennifer Linge, Sweden
  • How does weight cycling affect different tissue compartments?Joseph Brozinick, USA
  • Markus Anker
    Do incretin mimetics cause cardiac atrophy?Markus Anker, Germany
  • Maurizio Muscaritoli
    Can high protein diet prevent muscle wasting?Maurizio Muscaritoli, Italy
  • Julio Rosenstock
    Muscle anabolics during and after GLP-1RA therapy: trial resultsJulio Rosenstock, USA
  • Discussion
SESSION 9 · HALL B

Mitochondrial dysfunction as a therapeutic target in cachexia: exploring disease-specific mechanisms and shared pathways

Chairs
Volker Adams, Germany; Scott Bowen, UK

View presentations 5 presentations
  • Tumor-driven mitochondrial dysfunction in cancer cachexiaPaola Costelli, Italy
  • Mitochondrial dysfunction in age associated cachexiaRussell Hepple, USA
  • Mitochondrial function as therapeutic target in cachexiaBeatrice Vahle, Germany
  • Novel pharmacological approaches to target mitochondriaTienush Rassaf, Germany
  • Discussion
15:30–16:30

Break · Poster viewing 1 · Rapid-fire abstracts 1

16:30–17:45
SESSION 10 · HALL A · Translational

Biology, bulk, and function. What is the intersection in cancer cachexia?

Chairs
To be announced; Jose Garcia, USA

View presentations 5 presentations
  • Richard L. Lieber
    How neural and physiologic mechanisms integrate to dictate muscle function: translational examplesRichard L. Lieber, USA
  • Ishan Roy
    Distinguishing functional decline and recovery: preclinical and clinical lessons in cachexiaIshan Roy, USA
  • William Evans
    Muscle mass is not enough: distinct roles for muscle quality and mass in functionWilliam Evans, USA
  • Brittany Counts
    Muscle remodeling in cachexia: mechanisms linking cellular biology to contractile functionBrittany Counts, USA
  • Discussion
SESSION 11 · HALL B · Clinical

Muscle disorders in acute medical care

Chairs
Wolfram Doehner, Germany; To be announced

View presentations 5 presentations
  • Muscular disease in the acute medical care setting – update 2026Joerg C. Schefold, Switzerland
  • Skeletal muscle dysfunction during exercise in Long COVIDDavid Systrom, USA
  • Progress in understanding neuromuscular disease in the ICUSpeaker to be announced
  • Suggested clinical approaches to acute muscle wasting in the critically illStefan Schaller, Austria
  • Discussion
17:50–18:35

Industry session · Details to be announced

18:45–19:45

Welcome reception · Joint poster viewing

Join the opening conversations.

SCWD 2026 · Washington, DC · December 10–12

Register in person

Found your sessions?
Join the conversation in Washington.

Choose your registration

More than a seat in the lecture hall

Present, ask, discuss, meet. Beyond the scientific sessions, the three days include formats built for exchange.

  1. Thu, Dec 10 · 13:00–14:00

    Opening keynotes

    The “Prometheus” basic science and “Hippocrates” clinical science keynote lectures.

  2. Thu & Fri · posters also Sat

    Posters and rapid-fire abstracts

    Dedicated poster viewing and short oral presentations of selected abstracts.

  3. Thu, Dec 10 · 18:45–19:45

    Welcome reception

    Joint poster viewing to close the first day.

  4. Fri, Dec 11 · 07:00 (to be confirmed)

    Ken Fearon Career Café

    Meet the Mentor, with attendance upon application and confirmation.

  5. Fri, Dec 11 · 08:30–09:30 · Hall B

    COACH-ED session

    Crosstalks on diagnosing and treating cancer cachexia, from oncology and palliative care to nutrition and trials.

  6. Sat, Dec 12 · 08:00–09:00 · Hall A

    Young Investigators Award Session

    Early-career researchers present their work to the judges.

  7. Sat, Dec 12 · 15:15–16:00 · Hall A

    Highlights and awards

    Highlights in basic science, nutrition, sarcopenia and cancer cachexia, the Poster Award and the Young Investigator Award.

Heard in the hallways of SCWD

Short interviews recorded at last year’s conference, with researchers from Texas, Toronto and Edinburgh.

SCWD conference interviews. Press play to watch here.

Expert voices
  • James Carson interviewed at an SCWD conference 0:53
    James CarsonTexas A&M University, College Station, Texas
    Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
  • Christopher Perry interviewed at last year’s SCWD conference 0:53
    Christopher PerryYork University, Toronto
    York University, Toronto
  • Richard Skipworth interviewed at last year’s SCWD conference 0:38
    Richard SkipworthUniversity of Edinburgh
    University of Edinburgh
Jeffrey Crawford interviewed by COACH-ED
COACH-ED SCWD

Moving cancer
cachexia care forward.

Jeffrey Crawford

Jeffrey CrawfordDuke University School of Medicine
Duke University School of MedicineInterview published by COACH-ED · Emerging treatments and clinical trials.

The science brings us together.

Across SCWD conferences: scientific exchange, conversations over coffee and a community moving research forward.

Across SCWD conferences

Scientific exchange, in the room.
Conversations beyond the lecture hall.
A shared focus on the science.
Conversations over coffee.
Research becomes a conversation.
Celebrating scientific exchange. Photo shared by Henning Langer on LinkedIn.
Clinical expertise on stage.
Celebrating research.
Time to meet and exchange.
Sharing new findings.
Recognition and community.

Our sponsors

Together for a healthier tomorrow.

Organisations that have supported SCWD conferences, advancing research and patient care.

Previous conference supporters. The 2026 sponsor line-up will be confirmed separately.

Registration fees for in‑person attendance

Late registration fees for in-person attendance.

USD display equivalents. Final booking totals are confirmed in EUR.

Choose your registration category

SCWD 2026 · Washington, DC · December 10–12 · Late registration fees

Medical Professional

1,020EUR

SCWD members: −EUR 255.
Sign in at checkout to apply your reduction.

In-person conference registration.

Doctors under 35, scientists, nurses & students

800EUR

SCWD members: −EUR 200.
Sign in at checkout to apply your reduction.

Choose this fee if you belong to one of these categories.

Industry representative

2,250EUR

Individual in-person registration for industry representatives.

Selected: Medical Professional

Add Full membership and save EUR 105 overall

Your annual membership costs EUR 150 and reduces this ticket by EUR 255.

Ticket + membership: EUR 915 instead of EUR 1,020 for the ticket alone.

Conference ticketEUR 1,020

Full annual membershipEUR 150

Membership reduction−EUR 255

TotalEUR 915

Plan your trip to Washington, DC

The conference runs from Thursday, December 10, 8:30 am, to Saturday, December 12, 4:00 pm, as listed on the registration page.

Exterior of the Washington Marriott Georgetown hotel
Washington Marriott Georgetown, the 2026 conference venue.

Washington Marriott Georgetown

1221 22nd St NW
Washington, DC 20037, USA

Venue website (opens in a new tab)

Getting there by Metro
Foggy Bottom–GWU station (Blue and Orange lines), about a 10-minute walk.
Dupont Circle station (Red line), about an 11-minute walk.
Hotel rooms
Book through the official conference booking website. Rooms are subject to availability.
Book your room (opens in a new tab)
Visa invitation letter
Letters of invitation for visa purposes are provided by the SCWD office on request: scwd@mededgs.com. The letter is not a commitment to any financial support. If you travel from outside the United States, check entry requirements early.
Questions about registration
scwd@mededgs.com · +33 1 44 01 51 81 (France)

Questions before you register

Which registration category applies to me?

Choose the category that matches your professional role: Medical Professional; Doctors under 35, scientists, nurses and students; or Industry representative. Each category has a non-member and an SCWD member rate.

Not sure which one fits? Email scwd@mededgs.com before you register.

Are fees in US dollars?

USD and CAD are display equivalents. The native booking form confirms the final amount; the current checkout charges in EUR.

How do SCWD member rates work?

Member rates are available to SCWD members. Membership is a separate purchase with its own conditions, described on the membership page.

What is the cancellation policy?

Please see the Terms of Sale.

Will I receive an invoice?

If an institution or a third party pays for your registration, send the invoicing address (and VAT number, where applicable) to scwd@mededgs.com before payment. Payment by bank transfer is accepted on request.

What does my registration include?

[À confirmer par l'organisateur. Question masquée en version visiteur.]

Is the conference open to patients or the public?

SCWD 2026 is a scientific conference for healthcare professionals, researchers and industry. It does not provide medical advice or patient care.

Who organises SCWD 2026?

The Society on Sarcopenia, Cachexia and Wasting Disorders (SCWD), a scientific society based in Switzerland. Washington, DC is the location of the 2026 conference.

SCWD 2026 is the society’s 19th International Conference.

Who can I contact about my registration?

Email scwd@mededgs.com or call +33 1 44 01 51 81 (France).

Join the discussion in Washington, DC

  • December 10–12, 2026
  • In person
Register in person

Questions about registration? scwd@mededgs.com

Register for SCWD 2026

Washington, DC · December 10–12

Ticket Options
Medical ProfessionalSCWD members: −255,00€. Sign in at checkout to apply your reduction.
1 020,00€
Doctors under 35, scientists, nurses and studentsSCWD members: −200,00€. Sign in at checkout to apply your reduction.
800,00€
Industry representative
2 250,00€
Total Price : Free
Attendee Information :