June is Microbiome Month! MIC launches event series to celebrate World Microbiome Day
27th June is World Microbiome Day and the Microbiome Innovation Centre is marking the occasion by hosting a series of events throughout the month. The ‘Microbiome Month’ programme will showcase and celebrate microbiome research with seven sessions open to all University of Liverpool staff and students. Whether you are an active microbiome researcher or are simply interested to learn more about microbiome science and innovation, there is something for you.
Guest lunchtime seminar series: Leading researchers from four international institutions are visiting Liverpool to deliver guest seminars and take part in partnership meetings with MIC affiliates. The seminars are open to all University of Liverpool staff and students, lunch will be provided and there is a new seminar each week of June. The programme and links to registration and further details are as follows:
- Wednesday 5th June, Dr John Kenny, Teagasc Food Research Centre, “Food and Phages: Long Reads and Tall Tails”
- Thursday 13th June, Professor Mike Surette, McMaster University, “Cultivating Microbiota to Complement and Enhance Culture-Independent Microbiome Studies”
- Wednesday 19th June, Professor Colin Hill, APC Microbiome Ireland, "The virome, the known unknown of the microbiome"
- Friday 21st June (Liverpool Campus) and Monday 24th June (Leahurst Campus), Professor Erika Ganda, Penn State University, “One Health in Action: Bridging Animal and Human Health through Microbiome Research”
Microbiome Research Day: On World Microbiome Day (27th June), the MIC will hold a free research day featuring posters, talks and opportunities to build relationships and collaborations with other microbiome researchers. Access the agenda and register here.
Public Engagement: The centre is also planning an exciting public engagement event which will provide opportunities for adults and children alike to engage with microbiome science. Further details will be shared soon.
MIC Director, Professor Jo Fothergill said: “We are really excited to launch Microbiome Month. It is great to have the opportunity to celebrate the fantastic work of our colleagues, to showcase some excellent international speakers and to promote further interest in microbiome research within the University and beyond. Attracting four prestigious speakers to Liverpool is testament to the strength and reputation of the microbiome research community we have here. Our aim is that Microbiome Month will strengthen and build this community, by provoking conversations, sparking novel ideas and engendering new collaborations. We strongly encourage you to take part!”
About the MIC
Liverpool’s Microbiome Innovation Centre combines state of the art facilities, a rich breadth of expertise across clinical, veterinary, ecological and biological disciplines and a strong track record of external collaboration. The centre comprises over 50 affiliated academics, along with a vibrant associate research and PhD student community, investigating areas as diverse as: respiratory microbiomes in clinical trials for new therapeutic interventions, the vaginal microbiome and its role in preterm birth, the bovine foot skin microbiome and digital dermatitis, plant-microbe insect interactions and the implications thereof for food production.
MIC utilises £40m worth of cutting-edge facilities, including UK-leading multi-omics capabilities and biobanking. We work collaboratively with industrial, clinical and academic partners, both nationally and internationally, in order to accelerate microbiome research and generate impact from discovery science.