Exploring Human Host-Microbiome Interactions in Health and Disease

The 8th Exploring Human Host-Microbiome Interactions in Health and Disease meeting will once again bring together leading scientists and clinicians from the fields of microbiology, gastroenterology, neuroscience, cancer and public health to discuss the latest developments in this fast-moving area.

Recent studies have revealed the complexity of the gut microbial ecology and its network connectivity to the metabolic regulation of important pathways in the host. Studies on microbiota from various body sites are helping us to understand how microorganisms affect the host. Alterations in microbiome composition have been associated with many non-infectious diseases including inflammatory bowel conditions, autoimmune diseases, cancers and diabetes, although in many cases causality has yet to be established.

This meeting will update current knowledge of how various microbiomes (skin, oral, gut, lung, non-bacterial etc.) communicate with the host and the factors that influence these interactions. The programme will feature new developments enabled by metagenomics, metabonomics and other technologies. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in discussions on how to apply recent discoveries to disease processes, health restoration and maintenance.

This year’s meeting will also include sessions on the effects of the microbiome on cancer and how the immune system influences the microbiome and vice versa. As in previous years, the warm welcome given to students and the open friendly atmosphere provide attendees with an enjoyable conference.

The conference will start at approximately 12 noon on 23 October and close at approximately 1.30pm on 25 October 2019.

Topics will include:

• Microbiome in early life – development and modulation
• Skin microbiome
• Immune influences on the microbiome
• Gut phageome and virome
• Next generation tools for microbiome analysis
• Cancer and the microbiome

Scientific programme committee

Patricia Hibberd
Boston University, USA

Colin Hill
University College Cork, Ireland

Julian Marchesi
Cardiff University & Imperial College London, UK

Reetta Satokari
University of Helsinki, Finland

Keynote speakers

Confirmed speakers

Harri Alenius – University of Helsinki, Finland
Bas Dutilh – Utrecht University, The Netherlands
Lars Engstrand – Karolinska Institute, Sweden
Karoline Faust – KU Leuven, Belgium
Nigel Klein – University College London, UK
Julia Oh – The Jackson Laboratory, USA
Cath O’Neill – University of Manchester, UK
Roisin Owens – University of Cambridge, UK
Catherine Stanton – Teagasc, Ireland
Jillian Waters – Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Germany

Scientific Conferences Team

Treasa Creavin, Scientific Programme Manager
Zoey Willard, Conference & Events Organiser

The registration fee includes entrance to the lectures and poster sessions, an abstract book, meals (lunch and dinner) and refreshments during the conference. Breakfast will be provided for delegates who have booked accommodation.

Accommodation
Accommodation is provided for the nights of 23 and 24 October 2019. Please note: there is limited onsite accommodation and this will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, early registration is recommended.

If you wish to book onsite accommodation either side of the conference dates, please contact the Conference Centre directly.

Travel visas
Contact the conference organiser if you require a letter to support a travel visa application. Please note: letters will only be provided to confirmed registrants.

Non-European Economic Area or Swiss nationals may be required to have a visa to enter the UK.
Early application is strongly advised, as this process can take 6-8 weeks or longer.

Please visit the following websites for further information:

• UK Border Agency website
• Information for general visitors and business visitors

Accommodation services phishing scam – please be vigilant. More information.

A limited number of registration bursaries are available for PhD students to attend this conference (up to 50% of the standard registration fee) from Wellcome Genome Campus Scientific Conferences.

To apply, please contact the conference organiser. You will be sent a unique registration link which will hold your place, without taking payment, until you have been notified of the outcome of your application.

The following documents will need to be provided as part of the bursary application:

• Abstract (to be submitted via the portal during the registration process)
• CV
• A justification letter (explain how you will benefit from attending the conference)
• A supporting letter from supervisor stating financial need

If you have already registered for the conference you are still welcome to apply for a bursary, please contact the conference organiser.

Bursary deadline: 13 August 2019

Additional funding opportunities
Visit our support page for additional financial support currently available.

We welcome abstracts from all areas relevant to the main themes of the meeting, for both oral and poster presentations. Several oral presentations will be chosen from the abstracts submitted.

Abstracts will only be considered from registered delegates. Please use our online abstract submission system and follow the instructions given to ensure your abstract is submitted correctly. All abstracts must be submitted by the deadline. If you are intending to submit more than one abstract, please contact the conference organiser prior to registration.

The scientific programme committee will assess your abstract after the deadline has passed and you will be notified whether you have been selected for an oral or poster presentation.

Poster boards onsite will accommodate 118 cm high by 84 cm wide (A0- portrait) of printed material. Accepted abstracts will appear in the conference programme book and poster boards will be allocated at the conference.

Abstract deadline: 10 September 2019

How to upload an abstract once you have already completed registration:

1. Log back into your registration account using either Firefox or Internet Explorer as your browser, via link above the ‘Share’ button on the right hand column of this page
2. Click on ‘Account’ (top right).
3. Then click on ‘View account history’. This will show a table of your event registrations.
4. In the right-hand column you will see the option to ‘Upload file’ – click on this and select to upload an abstract.

A gut (microbiome) feeling about stress and brain development - John Cryan