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U2C/TL1 Ignite KUH Professional Development Retreat

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U2C/TL1 Ignite KUH Professional Development Retreat

Date: Jan. 16, 2026

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Location: Lobby and Room G101 A/B, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, 4 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, Virginia

Retreat Schedule

*All events are in Room G101 A/B, 4 Riverside Circle, unless otherwise noted

8:30 a.m.: Check-in / Coffee / Networking (Lobby, 4 Riverside Circle)

9 a.m.: Opening Remarks — Michael Friedlander, Ph.D., Executive Director, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Vice President for Health Sciences and Technology, Virginia Tech

9:10 a.m.: Keynote Speaker: Brenda Davy, Ph.D., RDN, Professor, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise; Virginia Tech

9:50 a.m.: Break / Network / FBRI Facility Tours (Lobby)

10:25 a.m.: Stephn LaConte, Ph.D., Professor and Interim Co-director, Addiction Recovery Research Center, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute; Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Tech (Room M203, 2 Riverside Circle)

11:30 a.m.: Lunch (Provided in the Lobby)

1:40 p.m.: Mini session 1: Zhen Yan, Ph.D., Professor and Director, Center for Exercise Medicine Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC; Professor, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Tech

2:05 p.m.: Mini session 2: James Smyth, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech

2:30 p.m.: Mini session 3: Roberta Freitas-Lemos, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech

2:50 p.m.: Break / Networking

3 p.m.: Lightning Round Competition

4 p.m.: Networking Reception / Closing Remarks (Lobby)

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