Technical Program
To see abstracts, please CLICK HERE
| Start Time | End Time | |
| December 1, 2025 | All Central European Time | |
| 8:00 AM | 4:00 PM | Registration & Check In |
| Day 1 | ||
| 9:00 AM | 10:00 AM | Opening Statements & Keynote |
| 9:00 AM | 9:10 AM | Day 1 Introduction by Chairs: Ruben V Uribe, KU Leuven-VIB Center for Microbiology; Muriel Derrien, KU Leuven-VIB Center for Microbiology; & Johan van Hylckama Vlieg, Freya Bioscience |
| 9:10 AM | 10:00 AM | KEYNOTE: Prebiotic Control of Engineered Commensals in Humans, Weston Whitaker, Stanford University |
| 10:00 AM | 10:30 AM | Morning Coffee Break |
| 10:30 AM | 12:20 PM | Session 1: Synthetic biology tools for microbiome engineering |
| 10:30 AM | 10:35 AM | Session Introduction by Session Chairs: Lothar Steidler, Swartberg Experts; & Jakob Krause Haaber, SNIPR Biome |
| 10:35 AM | 11:00 AM | Invited Speaker: Bioengineered Probiotics, J.P. van Pijkeren, University of Wisconsin-Madison |
| 11:00 AM | 11:25 AM | Invited Speaker: Genetically-engineered bacteriophages for therapeutic applications, Bryan Hsu, Virginia Tech |
| 11:25 AM | 11:45 AM | Selected Abstract: Treatment of Stec Infection Via CRISPR-Cas Targeted Cleavage of the Shiga Toxin Gene in Animal Models, Andreas Brödel, Eligo Bioscience |
| 11:45 AM | 12:05 PM | Selected Abstract: Engineered Microbial Therapeutic Targets Host-Impaired Microbial Metabolism to Alleviate Masld, Andreas Koulouktsis, Technical University of Denmark, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark |
| 12:05 PM | 12:10 PM | Lightning Talk: Reprogrammed Simcells for Antimicrobial Therapy, Yun Dong, University of Oxford |
| 12:10 PM | 12:15 PM | Lightning Talk: Engineered Bacterial Biosensors Reveal Spatial Dynamics of Sialic Acid Availability during Gut Inflammation, David Carreno Yugueros, Imperial College London |
| 12:15 PM | 12:20 PM | Lightning Talk: Development of Cutibacterium Acnes As a Chassis for Skin-Delivered Biologics, Nastassia Knödlseder, University Pompeu Fabra |
| 12:20 PM | 1:20 PM | Lunch Workshop by European Research Council (ERC): All you need to know before applying for an ERC Grant; Moderator: Alessandra Ferrari |
| 1:20 PM | 2:30 PM | Session 2: Emerging technologies & AI for microbiome interventions |
| 1:20 PM | 1:25 PM | Session Introduction by Session Chairs: Pedro Correa de Sampaio, Neobe Therapeutics; Joleen Masschelein, KUL-VIB Center for Microbiology |
| 1:25 PM | 1:50 PM | Invited Speaker: Unveiling plasmid functional elements using genomic language modeling, Rohan Sachdeva, University of California Berkeley |
| 1:50 PM | 2:15 PM | Invited Speaker: Scalable Next Generation Molecular Omics for Microbiome Science, Jack Geremia, MatterWorks |
| 2:15 PM | 2:20 PM | Lightning Talk: Predicting Novel Laccases from Environmental Microbiomes: A Reservoir for Future Bioremediation and Biotech Innovation, Elham Mahmoud, Ain Shams University |
| 2:20 PM | 2:25 PM | Lightning Talk: Comparative Pangenomics Unveils Distinct Host Adaptation Levels and Conserved Biosynthetic Potential in Microbiome Clostridia, Lucas De Vrieze, VIB-KU Leuven |
| 2:25 PM | 2:30 PM | Lightning Talk: Modelling of Consolidated Bioprocessing with Encoded Microbial Consortium for Bioethanol Production: Polynomial Models Versus Machine Learning Models, Mark Korang Yeboah, University of Duisburg Essen, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology |
| 2:30 PM | 3:00 PM | Afternoon Coffee Break |
| 3:00 PM | 3:45 PM | Panel Discussion: Future of Microbiome Engineering: What's Next? Moderated by: Lothar Steidler, Swartberg Experts; Panelists: JP van Pijkeren, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Fatima Pereira, University of Southampton; Jesus Fernandez, Eligo Biosciences; & Sarela, Garcia-Santamarina, Leibniz-HKI |
| 3:45 PM | 4:45 PM | Poster Session A |
| Start Time | End Time | |
| December 2, 2025 | All Central European Time | |
| 8:00 AM | 4:00 PM | Registration & Check In |
| Day 2 | ||
| 9:00 AM | 10:00 AM | Opening Statements & Keynote |
| 9:00 AM | 9:10 AM | Day 2 Introduction by Chairs |
| 9:10 AM | 10:00 AM | KEYNOTE: Microbiome Metabolites as Master Regulators of Gut Motility and Medication Response, Sahar El Aidy, University of Amsterdam |
| 10:00 AM | 10:30 AM | Morning Coffee Break |
| 10:30 AM | 11:50 AM | Session 3: Modulating microbiomes through environmental and nutritional inputs |
| 10:30 AM | 10:35 AM | Session Introduction by Session Chairs: Muriel Derrien, KU Leuven-VIB Center for Microbiology; & Sahar El Aidy, University of Amsterdam |
| 10:35 AM | 11:00 AM | Invited Speaker: Off-target effects of neuromodulating drugs on the gut microbiome, Fatima Pereira, University of Southampton |
| 11:00 AM | 11:25 AM | Invited Speaker: Intestinal transit time – a key factor in diet-microbiome interactions, Henrik Munch Roager, University of Copenhagen |
| 11:25 AM | 11:45 AM | Selected Abstract: Predicting Gut Microbiome Metabolic Potential from Host Diet, Hélène De Franco, Luxembourg Institute of Health, University of Luxembourg |
| 11:45 AM | 11:50 AM | Lightning Talk: Ultra-Processed Foods Lack the Live Bacteria Found in Fresh Foods, Compromising Gut Microbiome Diversity, Emma T Saltzman, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Monash University |
| 11:50 AM | 12:50 PM | Lunch |
| 12:50 PM | 2:35 PM | Session 4: From Bench to Product: navigating the path to microbiome innovation |
| 12:50 PM | 12:55 PM | Session Introduction by Session Chairs: Johan van Hylckama Vlieg, Freya Bioscience & Pedro Correa de Sampaio, Neobe Therapeutics |
| 12:55 PM | 1:20 PM | Invited Speaker: Fecal microbiota transplant in Parkinson’s disease, Debby Laukens, University of Gent |
| 1:20 PM | 1:45 PM | Invited Speaker: Bacterial derived Tryptophanmetabolites as modulators of immunological tone in (autoimmune) diabetes, Max Nieuwdorp, University of Amsterdam |
| 1:45 PM | 2:10 PM | Invited Speaker: Developing microbial immunotherapies for women’s health: from science to therapeutics through an in-human data platform, Elleke Bosma, Freya Biosciences |
| 2:10 PM | 2:35 PM | Invited Speaker: GMM for Health, the Acto story, Lothar Steidler, Swartberg Experts |
| 2:35 PM | 3:00 PM | Invited Speaker: Development of CRISPR-based medicines for precision microbiome intervention, Jakob Krause Haaber, SNIPR Biome |
| 3:00 PM | 3:20 PM | Selected Abstract: Shape-Driven Evolutionary Traps: Translating Nanostructured Silver into Scalable Antimicrobial Surfaces for Hospital Pathogen Control, Misty Thomas, North Carolina A&T State University |
| 3:20 PM | 3:50 PM | Afternoon Coffee Break |
| 3:50 PM | 4:35 PM | Panel Discussion: How to accelerate microbiome translation from bench to product? Moderated by: Johan van Hylckama Vlieg, Freya Bioscience; Panelists: Ghislain Schyns, DSM-Firmenich; Pedro Correa de Sampaio, Neobe Therapeutics; & Jack Geremia, Matterworks AI |
| 4:35 PM | 5:35 PM | Poster Session B |
| Start Time | End Time | |
| December 3, 2025 | All Central European Time | |
| 8:00 AM | 4:00 PM | Registration & Check In |
| Day 3 | ||
| 9:00 AM | 10:00 AM | Opening Statements & Keynote |
| 9:00 AM | 9:10 AM | Day 3 Introduction by Chairs |
| 9:10 AM | 10:00 AM | KEYNOTE: Natural and artificial transmission of the human microbiome, Nicola Segata, University of Trento |
| 10:00 AM | 10:30 AM | Morning Coffee Break |
| 10:30 AM | 12:15 PM | Session 5: Defined communities for microbiome modulation |
| 10:30 AM | 10:35 AM | Session Introduction by Session Chairs: Ruben V Uribe, KU Leuven-VIB Center for Microbiology; & Sahar El Aidy, University of Amsterdam |
| 10:35 AM | 11:00 AM | Invited Speaker: Advancing Rationally-Designed Microbial Consortia for Ulcerative Colitis and Beyond, Katja Conrath, MRM Health |
| 11:00 AM | 11:25 AM | Invited Speaker: Defined SynComs for microbiome modulation strategies targeting women’s health, Sarah Leeber, University of Antwerp |
| 11:25 AM | 11:45 AM | Selected Abstract: Mapping the Human Gut Microbiota's Competitive-Cooperative Web Via High-Throughput Interaction Profiling, Joshua Simcock, VIB, KU Leuven |
| 11:45 AM | 12:05 PM | Selected Abstract: Robogut-Based Evaluation of Living Biopharmaceuticals Active Against Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae, Sumin Choi, Ulsan National Institute Of Science and Technology |
| 12:05 PM | 12:10 PM | Lightning Talk: Novel E. coli Isolated from Healthy Human Feces That Is Active Against Carbapenem-Resistant Bacteria, Sinseong Park, Ulsan National Institute Of Science and Technology |
| 12:10 PM | 12:15 PM | Lightning Talk: Device-Driven Engineering of Spatially Structured Microbial Communities, Shagufta Rehmat, University of Naples, Federico II |
| 12:15 PM | 1:15 PM | Lunch |
| 1:15 PM | 2:50 PM | Session 6: Molecular tools for microbiome modulation |
| 1:15 PM | 1:20 PM | Session Introduction by Session Chairs: David Riglar, Imperial College London & Ruben V Uribe, KU Leuven-VIB Center for Microbiology |
| 1:20 PM | 1:45 PM | Invited Speaker: Establishing Genetic Tractability Across the Microbial Tree of Life, Kathrin Fenn, Cultivarium |
| 1:45 PM | 2:10 PM | Invited Speaker: Sustaining a healthy gut with functional Binding Proteins, Sandra Wingaard Thrane, Bactolife |
| 2:10 PM | 2:30 PM | Selected Abstract: Living Pharmacokinetics: Predicting Retention and Therapeutic Secretion of Engineered saccharomyces Boulardii in the Gut, Juliane Nguyen, UNC Chapel Hill |
| 2:30 PM | 2:50 PM | Selected Abstract: Phage Delivery of CRISPR Interference System to Aid AMR Bacteria Sensitization, Davide Favaro, University of Padova |
| 2:50 PM | 2:55 PM | Lightning Talk: Development of a Toolkit for High-Efficiency, Markerless, and Iterative Genome Editing in Shouchella Clausii, Gennaro Agrimi, University of Bari |
| 2:55 PM | 3:05 PM | Closing Remarks by Chairs: Ruben V Uribe, KU Leuven-VIB Center for Microbiology; Muriel Derrien, KU Leuven-VIB Center for Microbiology; & Johan van Hylckama Vlieg, Freya Bioscience |
