IUBMB Calendar

EMBL Conference: Unlocking the functional diversity of gut microbiomes

Event category: EMBL

Date: December 8, 2026 to December 10, 2026

Event website: https://www.embl.org/about/info/course-and-conference-office/events/gmd26-01/

Location: EMBL Heidelberg and Virtual, EMBL Advanced Training Centre

Organizers:

Robert Finn, EMBL-EBI, UK
Lisa Maier, University of Tübingen, Germany
Kiran Patil, University of Cambridge, UK
Nassos Typas, EMBL Heidelberg, Germany

Event description

This conference will take place at EMBL Heidelberg, with the option to attend virtually.

Conference overview

This conference presents the first efforts to systematically address this vast dark genetic matter in the human gut microbiome. It aims to foster discussion and chart a framework for engaging in this direction in a systematic and collaborative manner in the future. What tools and approaches are needed? What knowledge will advance microbiome research, distinguish between correlative and causal links, reveal underlying molecular mechanisms, and ultimately progress health applications?

To advance our functional understanding and microbiome engineering capabilities, the meeting will focus on selecting and establishing new model species for the human gut microbiome. This has been the core focus of the EMBL Microbial Ecosystems Transversal Theme in recent years, and the outcomes of this work will be presented.

We envision that this meeting will stimulate broader discussions on how to harness the vast functional diversity of microbes, which impact every ecosystem on the planet.

Session topics

• Data-driven functional discovery
• Genetic tools for mapping gene function and interactions
• Multi-omics for mapping gene function and cellular organisation
• Visualising functional units and protein machines
• Gene function in ecological context (communities, host, phages)
• Looking outward and forward – links to other microbiomes

#EMBLGutMicrobeFunction

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