NHGRI participates in international human microbiome meeting March 31-April 2, 2015

Representatives from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded Integrative Human Microbiome Project (iHMP), which is coordinated by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), will present findings at the 5th International Human Microbiome Congress. The Congress, organized by the International Human Microbiome Consortium (IMHC) and the Integrated BioBank of Luxembourg, will take place March 31- April 2 in Luxembourg. The human microbiome consists of trillions of microorganisms living in nearly every part of the human body. While some cause disease, the vast majority are important for health or are harmless.

Titled Future Directions for Human Microbiome Research in Health and Disease, the Congress will feature more than 50 speakers from 15 countries across five continents who will address a range of topics. NIH was a founding member of the IHMC in 2007.

One session will highlight recent results from the iHMP. These include results from studies focused on the microbiome and the onset of inflammatory bowel disease, type II diabetes and preterm birth. Other session speakers will discuss potential therapeutics using the microbiome, including a talk addressing the use of microbes in treating - and preventing - the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the gut.

On the meeting's last day, a panel will consider a number of leading issues for the field, such as the relationship between microbiome genomics and disease risk prediction; the microbiome and brain function and neurological diseases; and the use of engineered microbes for microbiome-related diseases.

WHEN:

Tuesday, March 31, 2015 to Thursday, April 2, 2015
Tuesday, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Wednesday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.|
Thursday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

WHERE:

Luxepo Exhibition and Conference Center
10 circuit de la Foire Internationale
L-1347 Luxembourg-Kirchberg

WHO:

For media and registration, please contact:
Arnaud d'Agostini, Marketing and Communication Manager
Integrated BioBank of Luxembourg
+ 352 27 44 64 - 24; + 352 621 553 203
arnaud.dagostini@ibbl.lu

For more information about iHMP research, please contact:
Lita Proctor, Ph.D., lita.proctor@nih.gov

NHGRI is one of the 27 institutes and centers at the National Institutes of Health. The NHGRI Extramural Research Program supports grants for research and training and career development at sites nationwide. Additional information about NHGRI can be found at http://www.genome.gov.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 institutes and centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.