Cellular and Physiological Nutrition/Metabolism
Clinical and Translational Nutrition
Community and Public Health Nutrition
Paul Coates, PhD, DFASN
Chair, Board of Trustees
ASN Foundation
Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
.jpg "Arne Astrup, MD, DMSc (he/him/his) photo")
Arne Astrup, MD, DMSc (he/him/his)
Independent Consultant; Boards of Directors and Scientific Advisory Boards Founding Editor-in-Chief, Obesity Reviews
Hellerup, Hovedstaden, Denmark
Disclosure(s): Azento Health: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing)
Concepteq A/S: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing)
Eolo Pharma: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing)
FoodMinds: Speaker/Speaker's Bureau (Ongoing)
King Christian IX and Queen Louise Jubilee Foundation: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing)
Lembas: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing)
Lipidio Pharma: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing)
National Dairy Council: Speaker/Speaker's Bureau (Ongoing)
Novo Nordisk Foundation: Employee (Terminated, August 1, 2025)
Reeducation Nutritionnelle et Psycho-Comportementale (RNPC) Scientific Committee: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing)
Katherine Li, MSc, PhD (she/her/hers)
Scientific Manager
Clinical Medicine & Diabetes
Novo Nordisk Foundation
Hellerup, Hovedstaden, Denmark
Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
.jpg "Rachel Whooten, MD, MPH photo")
Rachel Whooten, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics; Clinical Director, Pediatric Endocrinology
Massachusetts General Hospital for Children
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Andrew Agbaje, MD, MPH, PhD, FACC, FESC, FAHA, FNYAM
Associate Professor of Clinical Epidemiology and Child Health
University of Eastern Finland
Kuopio, Pohjois-Savo, Finland
Disclosure(s): Novo Nordisk Foundation: Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
Ana Palacios, MD, PhD (she/her/hers)
Assistant Professor
Georgia Southern University
Savannah, Georgia, United States
Disclosure(s): Weight Watchers International: Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
Presented by the ASN Foundation and Novo Nordisk Foundation
This session will highlight emerging leaders advancing innovative approaches to the prevention and management of childhood obesity. Presented by the ASN Foundation and the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the Flemming Quaade Emerging Investigator Session recognizes outstanding early-career investigators whose work is shaping the future of pediatric obesity research and care.
The program will feature the 2026 Flemming Quaade Emerging Investigator Lecture by Dr. Rachel C. Whooten, as well as a research update from the inaugural 2025 award recipient, Dr. Andrew Agbaje highlighting scientific progress and impact since receiving the award. A concluding conversation and audience Q&A with both awardees will explore emerging trends, ongoing challenges, and future directions in childhood obesity research, prevention, and clinical management.
Speaker: Arne Astrup, MD, DMSc (he/him/his) – Independent Consultant; Boards of Directors and Scientific Advisory Boards Founding Editor-in-Chief, Obesity Reviews
Chair: Paul M. Coates, PhD, DFASN – ASN Foundation
Speaker: Katherine J. Li, MSc, PhD (she/her/hers) – Novo Nordisk Foundation
Speaker: Rachel C. Whooten, MD, MPH – Massachusetts General Hospital for Children
Speaker: Andrew Agbaje, MD, MPH, PhD, FACC, FESC, FAHA, FNYAM – University of Eastern Finland
Moderator: Ana Palacios, MD, PhD (she/her/hers) – Georgia Southern University
Speaker: Andrew Agbaje, MD, MPH, PhD, FACC, FESC, FAHA, FNYAM – University of Eastern Finland
Speaker: Rachel C. Whooten, MD, MPH – Massachusetts General Hospital for Children