The University of Guelph’s College of Biological Science will be hosting the Gairdner Microbiome Symposium on June 20, 2024, in partnership with the Gairdner Foundation.

The human gut microbiome has garnered enormous interest in the past two decades, both from scientists and the general public. The gut microbiome refers to the collection of microorganisms – bacteria, viruses, yeast and more – that make their home within our intestines. Damage to the gut microbiome has been shown to be associated with, and even cause, a growing number of diseases, including cancer, diabetes, obesity and allergies.

Diet is a major driver of gut microbial health and activity. Since everyone harbours a gut microbiome that is unique to them, understanding how our diets are transformed by our own microbes is a complex problem in personalized medicine, but one which stands to revolutionize medicine, if it can be harnessed effectively.

The Gairdner Microbiome Symposium will explore the role of the microbiome in medicine and nutrition, as well as the impacts of culture and industrialization on our gut microbiomes.

The day-long event will feature three speakers including:

• Precision Microbiome Medicine, presented by Dr. Jack Gilbert, Professor of the Department of Pediatrics and Scripps Institute of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego, President of Applied Microbiology International and winner of the 2023 IFF Microbiome Science Prize
• Are Microbes the Missing Ingredient in Celiac Disease?, presented by Dr. Elena Verdu, Tier 1 Canada Research Chair, associate director of the Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute and director of the Axenic Gnotobiotic Unit at McMaster University
• Missing Microbiomes and Where to Find Them: Bridging Science and Advocacy with the Yanomami People, presented by David Good, PhD candidate in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Guelph, Explorer’s Club 50 awardee 2023, and founder of the Yanomami Foundation

There will be a Q&A session with the speakers, a research poster competition for trainees, and lab tours of the University of Guelph’s Summerlee Science Complex.

The event is free and open to researchers, students, professionals and the general public. Lunch will be included.

Visit the website for more information and to register to attend virtually or in-person.