International Conference on Muscle Biology and Cachexia

Although much progress has been made in the understanding of the mechanisms of muscle biology and the development of cachexia, key discoveries leading to effective therapeutic interventions remain elusive for researchers in the field. In an effort to shed light on innovative basic and translational research underway in the prevention and treatment of a broad range of muscle disorders, the International Conference on Muscle Biology and Cachexia will bring together researchers, trainees, and industry representatives focused on skeletal and cardiac muscle biology, muscle stem cells, exercise physiology, cancer, and cancer-associated cachexia to share insights and establish collaborative relationships.

2nd International Conference on Muscle Biology & Cachexia

Feb. 21-23, 2027 | University of Houston

Student Center South-Houston Room

See highlights of the inaugural conference in 2025 and 2025 Meeting Report

For attending sponsors, please register and submit fee using the link above; for non-attending sponsors, please use the link below. 

Conference Highlights

• Keynote & Plenary Presentations by Leading Researchers
• Student and Postdoctoral Poster Presentations and "Short Talks" from Accepted Abstracts
• Awards for Best Poster/Podium Presentations

Registration Fees

$100 for undergraduate and graduate students, $200 for postdoctoral trainees, $300 academic faculty, and $600 for industry representatives

Sponsorships

Pharmaceutical industry interests are invited to become a sponsor of the conference. Sponsorship levels begin at $2,500, which includes logo/link on this page, a full-color ad in the program book, and recognition at the event. For sponsorship inquiries, please contact event organizers Ashok Kumar or Radbod Darabi.

Keynote Speaker 

Eric N. Olson, Ph.D. Annie and Willie Nelson Professorship in Stem Cell Research, Pogue Distinguished Chair in Research on Cardiac Birth Defects, The Robert A. Welch Distinguished Chair in Science, UT Southwestern Medical Center

Confirmed Speakers 

Swarnali Acharyya, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
Surinder Batra, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
Suresh Chari, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
Christine Chio, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
Paola Costelli, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
Rony Dev, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
Jose M. Garcia, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
Troy Hornberger, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
Peter Kang, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Shihuan Kuang, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
Serkan Kır, Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
Michael Kyba, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Min Li, University of Oklahoma Health Campus, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
Ning Liu, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
Kamiya Mehla, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
Foteini Mourkioti, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Rita Perlingeiro, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Maria Rohm, Institute for Diabetes and Cancer, Helmholtz Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
Marco Sandri, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
Rana P. Singh, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
Reshma Taneja, National University of Singapore, Singapore
Francesco Tedesco, University College London, London,  UK
Huating Wang, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Teresa Zimmers, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA

More speakers to be announced soon

Organizing Committee

Ashok Kumar, University of Houston
Radbod Darabi, University of Houston
Bradley McConnell, University of Houston
Marc Hamilton, University of Houston
Yu Liu, University of Houston
Ravi K. Singh, University of Houston
Xiling Shen, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston
Yi-Ping Li, UTHealth Houston, Houston
Vihang Narkar, UTHealth Houston
George Rodney, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston

Accommodations

Accommodations are available at the Hilton Hotel - University of Houston, 4450 University Dr., Houston, TX 77204 (conveniently located directly across the street from the conference site). Hotel guests may use the on-site underground parking garage.

Parking

General parking (hourly rates; maximum $20 per day) is available in the UH Welcome Center & Parking Garage, 4434 University Dr., Houston, TX 77204.

For special accommodations at the conference, please contact Desi Miller (713-743-7565) at least 48 hours in advance.