MMRI will kick off its inaugural seminar series, Health & Science Made Simple, tomorrow, January 29, 2026, with “The Ozempic Effect: Unpacking the Scientific and Societal Impact,” presented in partnership with Mohawk Valley Living. This engaging panel discussion will explore what Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications are, how they work and what their growing use means for health, medicine and society.

The seminar will feature an expert panel including Maria Kontaridis, Ph.D., executive director, Gordon K. Moe professor and chair of biomedical research and translational medicine at MMRI, and Michael Kelberman, M.D., FACC, cardiologist at Central New York Cardiology. Together, they will break down the science behind GLP-1 medications in clear, easy-to-understand terms and discuss their real-world impact.

The series will take place at 6 p.m. at Masonic Medical Research Institute, 2150 Bleecker St., Utica, N.Y. Be sure to attend for an informative and engaging evening with leading experts. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn, ask questions and leave feeling informed and empowered. Thanks to the generous support of its sponsors, Central New York Brain and Spine and Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, this seminar series is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be available, and guests may also take part in a guided tour of MMRI’s state-of-the-art facility.

Have questions for the experts? Community members are encouraged to submit questions online in advance or participate during the live Q&A portion of the program. To register and submit questions, visit mmri.edu/seminarseries.