Unlocking the Microbiome
15 Nov - London, UK
The Microbiology Society launched its policy report 'Unlocking the Microbiome', informed by our Microbiome Policy Project, at The Royal Society in London.
Overview
Microbiome research is a rapidly developing area of science, utilising advances in technologies such as metagenomics, to investigate and exploit the communities of micro-organisms associated with humans, plants, animals, and environments such as soils and oceans. Scientists are exploring diverse opportunities from this research, including for human and animal health and nutrition, sustainable agriculture, industrial biotechnology and tackling antimicrobial resistance. However, scientific, translational and social challenges and considerations need to be addressed to build and apply our knowledge of microbiomes.
This event launched the Microbiology Society’s report ‘Unlocking the Microbiome’, which explores opportunities and challenges for microbiome research identified over the course of our Microbiome Policy Project. It also provided an opportunity for multidisciplinary networking and knowledge exchange between researchers, funders, learned societies, policy advisers and other stakeholders interested in microbiome research.
All attendees took part in an engaging discussion about the opportunities and challenges of microbiome research, relating to issues including: potential clinical, agricultural and environmental innovations; public communication of research; promoting interdisciplinary research; regulation and ethics; big data issues, and more.
Programme
The report and a summary of the event can be accessed here.
| 12:00 |
Lunch and networking |
| 13:00 |
Chair's welcome addressPeter Cotgreave, Chief Executive, Microbiology Society |
| 13:05 |
Keynote Address: Unlocking the Microbiome for Research and InnovationProfessor Julian Marchesi, Professor of Human Microbiome Research and Professor of Clinical Microbiome Research, Cardiff University and Imperial College London |
| 13:25 |
Panel discussion: Opportunities and Challenges for Microbiome ResearchChaired by Peter Cotgreave, Chief Executive, Microbiology Society Professor Julian Marchesi, Professor of Human Microbiome Research and Professor of Clinical Microbiome Research, Cardiff University and Imperial College London Professor Jim Prosser, Chair in Environmental Microbiology, University of Aberdeen Dr Fiona Brennan, Research Officer - Soil and Environmental Microbiology, Teagasc Dr Rob Finn, Team Leader, Sequence Families, European Bioinformatics Institute – EMBL-EBI Dr Lena Ciric, Senior Lecturer, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, UCL |
| 14:10 |
Advancing Microbiome Science: A BBSRC PerspectivePeter Burlinson, Strategy and Policy Manager, BBSRC |
| 14:25 |
Questions and answers |
| 14:30 |
Refreshment break |
| 14:45 |
UK Plant Microbiome InitiativeProfessor Penny Hirsch, Research Scientist, Rothamsted Research Dr Matthew Ryan, Research Leader, Biological Resources, CABI |
| 15:00 |
The Microbiome – Social Science PerspectivesDr Beth Greenhough, Associate Professor of Human Geography, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford Dr Carmen McLeod, Postdoctoral Researcher, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford |
| 15:15 |
Microbiomes and their Significance in Animal Production: Diet, Health and AntibioticsProfessor Martin Woodward, Professor of Human Gut Microbiome Studies, University of Reading |
| 15:30 |
The Human Microbiome – Opportunities for TranslationDr Lindsay Hall, Research Leader, The Quadram Institute |
| 15:45 |
Questions and answers |
| 16:05 |
Closing commentsProfessor Neil Gow, President, Microbiology Society |
| 16:10 |
Networking reception |
| 17:00 |
Close |
How to attend
This event was free to attend, but with limited spaces.
Venue
This event took place at The Royal Society.
The Royal Society
6–9 Carlton House Terrace
St James's
London
SW1Y 5AG