Summary of NDPIA Microbiota and Health course 2020

Group photo of the organizers and participants.

During the first week of December 2020, NDPIA offered its first online course on Microbiota and Health. The course introduced the field of microbiomes with a focus on how microbiota affect the health of a host.

It was superb and the level of research presented was of very high qualityAnonymous participant

Twenty international experts in the microbiome field, including Willem de Vos (University of Helsinki, Wageningen University), Nathalie Delzenne (Université Catholique de Louvain), and Erica and Justin Sonnenburg (Stanford University School of Medicine), presented lectures and held discussions on methods used to study microbiomes. Areas that were covered included microbiota associated with hosts, such as humans, farm-animals, and plants, effects of diet and age on the microbiota, interactions of the microbiota with the immune system and drugs, and trends on modifying the microbiota.

High quality in the talks. Small enough number of participants for interaction. Involving people from different areas of research not limited to Sweden but also across European institutions. Breakout rooms with the speakers – this was very unique in the course!Anonymous participant

Part of Jürgen Harder’s lecture on microbiota and skin health.

Part of Nathalie Delzenne’s lecture on prebiotics and probiotics.

Part of Phillip Pope’s lecture on microbiota of farmed animals.

Part of Robert Brummer’s lecture on microbiota gut-brain axis.

The lectures were all fantastic. The Zoom format facilitated participation and made it more comfortable to ask questionsAnonymous participant

In addition to these lectures, course participants presented and discussed their research with colleagues during live online poster sessions and free time online was also provided for informal discussions.

Collection of student posters created with aMuze’s iPosterSessions.

Collection of student poster presentations.

The course was successful in part due to it being online and travel was not needed. As a result, we could engage participants from Sweden, Germany, Norway, and Denmark to build scientific networks with each other as well as outstanding national and international researchers in the field.

Fantastic speakers and a great rounded programmeAnonymous participant

To see the full course programme, please visit: ndpia.se/events/microbiota-and-health/

Workspace of the course organizers located at Umeå University. Pictured: Debra Milton, Björn Schröder, and Hanna Eriksson.