Content
The Steno Thursdays events aim to disseminate exciting diabetes research from clinical- and biomedicine to epidemiology. Most presentations are given by researchers affiliated to or collaborating with SDCA. We host Steno Thursdays Global once a month, featuring international diabetes experts.
There will be room for questions and discussions following every talk.
How often
Thursdays, 14:00-15:00 in Verdensrummet, Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus.
February 5th, 2026, 14.00
Galactose - The ideal carbohydrate supplement for exercise?
Summary: Exercise is an important component in the management of type 1 diabetes, but maintaining stable glucose levels during and after exercise remains a major challenge. Preventing hypoglycemia often requires carbohydrate intake around exercise, yet the glycemic response from many glucose-based carbohydrates causes sharp rises in blood sugar followed by rapid declines, increasing the risk of hypoglycemia.
Galactose is an interesting alternative carbohydrate, as it is primarily thought to be metabolized in the liver and releases glucose more slowly into the bloodstream, resulting in smaller glucose fluctuations. Despite this potential, galactose metabolism remains poorly understood.
In this talk, Esben Søndergaard and Thien Vinh Luong present the first in vivo evidence that human skeletal muscle can directly take up the PET tracer ¹⁸F-FDGal, and that this uptake is strongly stimulated by both exercise and insulin.
Esben Søndergaard, MD, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University and SDCA Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus.
Thien Vinh Luong, MD, PhD, Postdoc, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University.
February 19th, 2026, 14.00
Updates from the Machine Learning & Clinical Prediction Lab
Summary: Adam will give a brief annual update on projects and initiatives from the lab before diving deeper into two new projects where we are currently collecting data. First, Manu will talk about StenoVoice, where we collect the voice of participants in the Health in Central Denmark cohort to identify vocal biomarkers of cardiovascular disease.
Then, Nina will introduce the DISCORDANT Study, embedded in INTEN-CT, where we phenotype participants with extreme cardiovascular risk profiles in the metabolic chambers.
Adam Hulman, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University and SDCA Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus.
Manuel Thomasen, PhD student, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University and SDCA Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus.
Nina Ziegenbein, PhD student, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University and SDCA Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus.
February 26th, 2026, 14.00
TBA
Summary: Dr. Chen is a pioneer in human energy metabolism research and the lead author of the only published reporting guidelines for whole-room indirect calorimetry (WRIC). His groundbreaking work on thermoregulation and physical activity regulation has substantially advanced understanding of how energy metabolism impacts nutrition and chronic disease.
Kong Y. Chen, PhD, Co-Director, Metabolic Clinical Research Unit Section Chief, Energy Metabolism Section Director, Human Energy & Body Weight Regulation Core National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), NIH, Bethesda, MD.
Please note that this seminar is part of the Networking & Collaboration Event Whole-room Indirect Calorimetry 26-27th of February.
If you would like to attend the entire 2-day event, please sign up using following link:
https://ninaziegenbein.github.io/wricaarhus2026/
Deadline is February 15th. Registration is not required if you will only attend during the Steno Thursday seminar.
How to join
Talks are announced through e-mails and Slack. Everyone can join.
Steno Thursdays Global talks are also announced online and on X @StenoAarhusRes. Meetings are held at Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus (Forum, AUH).
Contact persons
- Anne Lundager Madsen, Annelmadsen@sund.ku.dk
- Jakob Wang, jawa@biomed.au.dk
Content
Diabetes and diabetes-related epidemiology meeting
How often
Monthly (no meeting in July due to summer holidays)
How to join
Everybody affiliated to SDCA and interested in epidemiology is welcome to join. Please see: https://steno-aarhus.github.io/epi/
Contact persons
- Alisa Kjærgaard, alisa.kjaergaard@auh.rm.dk
- Luke Johnston, luke.johnston@rm.dk
Content
Biomed lab. meetings are primarily based on laboratory methods and methodology development and its application in translational or clinical studies. The techniques are diverse and covers a spectrum from tissue signaling to subcellular analysis (e.g. Western Blot, immunostaining, single cell transcriptomics, Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting).
How often
Every second week
How to join
Everybody are welcome to join these meetings to discuss and expand the field and it doesn’t matter if you are new or experienced in laboratory research and related techniques. Topic and location is send to the Biomed lab. mail list. Please contact us to get on the list.
Contact persons
- Jakob Wang Jawa@biomed.au.dk
Content
At these meetings, we discuss metabolism with a focus on experimental physiology and methods to quantify human metabolism (e.g. tracers, hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps, PET scans)
How often
Monthly (14:00-15:00 last Friday each month )
How to join
The meeting is for all researchers involved in studies of human metabolism. It is expected that all participants are active and contribute by presenting protocols, methods and data. Agenda and location is sent out through the META-LAB mailing list. Contact us to get on the list.
Contact person
- Esben Søndergaard (Esben.sondergaard@clin.au.dk)
Content
Journal club covering relevant papers within the field of diabetes and pregnancy. Also presentation of projects from researchers within this field and possibilities for feedback and networking.
How often
Once a month on Wednesdays from 12:00 - 13:30 at Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus.
How to join
All are free to join, contact clinical researcher Sine Knorr, sine.knorr@clin.au.dk
Contact persons
- Sine Knorr, sine.knorr@clin.au.dk
- Ulla Kampmann Opstrup, ullaopst@rm.dk
Content
At these meetings, we discuss papers and our own results within the areas of integrated care focusing on prevention of diabetes and diabetes late effects.
How often
Monthly (Monday 12:30-13:30)
How to join
The meeting is open for all researchers. Contact us to get on the list.
Contact person
- Anette Andersen (Anette.Andersen@rm.dk)
Content
The overall purpose of the meetings is knowledge sharing on how to approach common issues when working with register based data. Also, the meetings are open to anyone who wish to learn more about register based research – no matter if you have any previous experience in the subject.
How often
Every 4 weeks
How to join
Meetings are held at Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus
Contact person
- Kamilla Horn KAMHOR@rm.dk
Content
With this forum we want to invite all at the Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus with an interest in nutrition to come and discuss emerging topics, science and implementation related to nutrition.
Aim
To spark more collaboration across the center and a stronger link between research and the clinic in the area of nutrition.
Target group
All at SDCA with an interest in nutrition. All dieticians from research and the clinic have permission to attend the meetings.
How often
Thursday afternoons. We have 10-12 meetings per year.
If you want more information and calendar invitations, please send an email to Daniel (dbi@ph.au.dk)
Contact persons
Marie Kirk (maekir@rm.dk)
Daniel Ibsen (dbi@ph.au.dk)