| 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: J.P. van Pijkeren, University of Wisconsin |
| 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 |
| 1:20 PM |
3:20 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: Rohan Sachdeva, University of California Berkeley |
| 1:50 PM |
2:15 PM |
Invited Speaker: Dr. Jack Geremia, MatterWorks |
| 2:15 PM |
2:40 PM |
Invited Speaker: Ophelia Venturelli, Duke University |
| 2:40 PM |
3:00 PM |
Selected Abstract: Model-Based Optimal Feeding and Temperature Profiles to Maximize Wine Aroma and Shorten Fermentation Time, Cristóbal Torrealba, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile |
| 3:00 PM |
3:20 PM |
Selected Abstract: Hybrid CNN–Lstm Framework for Ecosystem Health Prediction from Microbiome–Environmental Data, Masoumeh Taleshi, Shahid Beheshti University |
| 3:20 PM |
3:25 PM |
Lightning Talk: Predicting Novel Laccases from Environmental Microbiomes: A Reservoir for Future Bioremediation and Biotech Innovation, Elham Mahmoud, Ain Shams University |
| 3:25 PM |
3:30 PM |
Lightning Talk: Comparative Pangenomics Unveils Distinct Host Adaptation Levels and Conserved Biosynthetic Potential in Microbiome Clostridia, Lucas De Vrieze, VIB-KU Leuven |
| 3:30 PM |
3:35 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 |
| 3:35 PM |
4:05 PM |
Afternoon Coffee Break |
| 4:05 PM |
4:50 PM |
Panel Discussion: Future of Microbiome Engineering: What's Next? Moderated by: Lothar Steidler, Swartberg Experts |
| 4:50 PM |
5:50 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: Joana Falcao Salles, University of Groningen |
| 10:00 AM |
10:30 AM |
Morning Coffee Break |
| 10:30 AM |
12:20 PM |
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 Perari, 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: Designing Prebiotic Strategies to Emulate Microbiota-Directed Therapeutic Foods for Treating Acute Malnutrition, Matthew Hibberd, WashU Medicine |
| 11:45 AM |
12:05 PM |
Selected Abstract: Predicting Gut Microbiome Metabolic Potential from Host Diet, Hélène De Franco, Luxembourg Institute of Health, University of Luxembourg |
| 12:05 PM |
12:10 PM |
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 |
| 12:10 PM |
12:15 PM |
Lightning Talk: A Coupled Bait-and-Switch and Phenotype Association Framework for the Discovery of Polymer-Degrading Enzymes from Intact Microbiomes, Colleen Yancey, New England Biolabs |
| 12:15 PM |
12:20 PM |
Lightning Talk: Steering Carbon-Cycling Bioeconomy through Mixed-Culture Chain Elongation across Diverse Waste Streams: Engineering Control and Multi-Omics Analysis, Minxi Jiang, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Columbia University |
| 12:20 PM |
1:20 PM |
Lunch |
| 1:20 PM |
3:05 PM |
Session 6: From Bench to Product: navigating the path to microbiome innovation |
| 1:20 PM |
1:25 PM |
Session Introduction by Session Chairs: Johan van Hylckama Vlieg, Freya Bioscience & Pedro Correa de Sampaio, Neobe Therapeutics |
| 1:25 PM |
1:50 PM |
Invited Speaker: Debby Laukens, University of Gent |
| 1:50 PM |
2:15 PM |
Invited Speaker: Max Nieuwdorp, University of Amsterdam |
| 2:15 PM |
2:40 PM |
Invited Speaker: Elleke Bosma, Freya Biosciences |
| 2:40 PM |
3:05 PM |
Invited Speaker: GMM for Health, the Acto story, Lothar Steidler, Swartberg Experts |
| 3:05 PM |
3:30 PM |
Invited Speaker: Jakob Krause Haaber, SNIPR Biome |
| 3:30 PM |
3:50 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 |
| 3:50 PM |
4:20 PM |
Afternoon Coffee Break |
| 4:20 PM |
5:05 PM |
Panel Discussion: How to accelerate microbiome translation from bench to product? Moderated by: Johan van Hylckama Vlieg, Freya Bioscience |
| 5:05 PM |
6:05 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: Nicola Segata, University of Trento |
| 10:00 AM |
10:30 AM |
Morning Coffee Break |
| 10:30 AM |
12:20 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: Sam Possemiers, MRM Health |
| 11:00 AM |
11:25 AM |
Invited Speaker: Petra Louis, University of Aberdeen |
| 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 |
12:20 PM |
Lightning Talk: Engineering Defined Microbial Communities for the Built Environment, Claudia Gunsch, Duke University |
| 12:20 PM |
1:20 PM |
Lunch |
| 1:20 PM |
2:55 PM |
Session 4: Molecular tools for microbiome modulation |
| 1:20 PM |
1:25 PM |
Session Introduction by Session Chairs: David Riglar, Imperial College London |
| 1:25 PM |
1:50 PM |
Invited Speaker: Nili Ostrov, Cultivarium |
| 1:50 PM |
2:15 PM |
Invited Speaker: Sandra Wingaard Thrane, Bactolife |
| 2:15 PM |
2:35 PM |
Selected Abstract: Juliane Nguyen, UNC Chapel Hill |
| 2:35 PM |
2:55 PM |
Selected Abstract: Phage Delivery of CRISPR Interference System to Aid AMR Bacteria Sensitization, Davide Favaro, University of Padova |
| 2:55 PM |
3:00 PM |
Lightning Talk: Development of a Toolkit for High-Efficiency, Markerless, and Iterative Genome Editing in Shouchella Clausii, Gennaro Agrimi, University of Bari |
| 3:00 PM |
3:05 PM |
Lightning Talk: Synthetic Microbiome Platform for Living Cell Medicine, Valeriia Kravchik, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology |
| 3:05 PM |
3:10 PM |
Lightning Talk: Synthetic Microbial Protein Secretion Machinery for Microbial Therapeutics, Urartu Ozgur Safak Şeker, Bilkent University |
| 3:10 PM |
3:40 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 |
