The Rising Star Power Talks at ENDO showcase brief, high-impact presentations from 15 early-career and in-training members of the Endocrine Society. At ENDO 2026, judges and attendees selected winners across categories. This article profiles the Basic Science winner, Lila Dabill, a PhD student at Washington University in St. Louis, who presented her doctoral work during the session. Other winners mentioned included recipients in Clinical and Translational Science categories and an Audience’s Choice pick.
Dabill’s presentation described thesis work from Dr. Erica Scheller’s laboratory focused on the NADase enzyme Sarm1, which is predominantly expressed in the nervous system and acts as the central executioner of Wallerian axon degeneration after injury. The research team examined metabolic consequences of genetically knocking out Sarm1 in all nerves of mice subjected to a high fat diet.
Key experimental observations reported by Dabill include prevention of high fat diet–induced outcomes in Sarm1 neural knockout mice: these animals did not develop obesity, insulin resistance, or liver steatosis that were otherwise seen in control animals. The group conducted metabolic caging assessments and thermogenic testing and found that the phenotype—prevention of weight gain—was independent of differences in energy expenditure, physical activity, and thermogenesis. Based on these findings, the lab is shifting focus to the gut as a candidate mechanism linking neural Sarm1 activity to diet-induced metabolic dysfunction.
Planned experimental approaches described by Dabill include functional assays and whole-mount imaging to evaluate whether neural Sarm1 knockout protects against high fat diet–induced gut dysfunction and enteric neuropathy. These studies aim to establish mechanistic connections between neural Sarm1 activity, gut physiology, and systemic metabolic outcomes.
Dabill framed her work within the broader clinical problem that prompted the project: rising prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes in the United States and a need for additional treatment strategies. She noted that current treatments may have concerning side effects or limited effectiveness for some patients. The discovery that neural Sarm1 knockout blocks multiple metabolic derangements suggests a novel neural mechanism that could be therapeutically relevant.
Because Sarm1 inhibitors are already in development by multiple companies as potential treatments for neuropathy and neurodegenerative conditions—based on Sarm1’s role in axon degeneration—Dabill highlighted the translational possibility: if neural Sarm1 activity contributes to obesity, insulin resistance, and fatty liver, then Sarm1 inhibitors might be evaluated for multi-faceted metabolic benefits, potentially addressing neuropathy, insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, and weight gain simultaneously. The article reports that the lab will pursue gut-focused mechanistic work to determine whether such therapeutic avenues are plausible.
Dabill described the Rising Star Power Talks format as a fast-paced, elevator pitch–style presentation that forces presenters to be concise and focus on why their research matters. She found the format satisfying and valuable for developing the ability to communicate complex science in clear terms to a broad audience of peers and mentors. Dabill also appreciated seeing other early-career scholars present and emphasized the importance of practicing succinct scientific pitches that convey relevance to the general public.
Dabill credited the Endocrine Society with serving as a professional home during her PhD training. She reported attending and presenting at Society events over several years and described the environment as collaborative and supportive, contributing to rigor and growth in her research. The Society provided opportunities to learn from field experts and engage in discussions she found stimulating. Dabill expressed enthusiasm for continued involvement and attendance at future ENDO meetings.
Scientifically, the immediate next phase of Dabill’s project is testing gut phenotypes and mechanisms in the context of neural Sarm1 knockout with a high fat diet. The team will use functional assays and whole-mount imaging to assess whether Sarm1 neural knockout mitigates diet-induced gut dysmotility, enteric neuropathy, or dysregulated gut–brain-axis signaling. Outcomes from these experiments will guide whether pursuing Sarm1 inhibitors as a treatment for obesity and type 2 diabetes is a feasible strategy that could address multiple comorbidities.
On a career timeline, Dabill reported plans to defend her PhD in spring 2027, seek a postdoctoral position thereafter, and ultimately aims to establish an independent laboratory as a principal investigator focused on metabolism and neural regulation of metabolic function.
(Endocrine News editor Mark A. Newman conducted the interview and reported the profile of the Rising Star winner.)