Gairdner Microbiome Symposium 2024: Exploring Nutrition, Health & Culture

We are excited to announce 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 day-long event will feature three speakers including:

• Dr. Jack Gilbert - "Precision Microbiome Medicine" - 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
• Dr. Elena Verdu - "Are Microbes the Missing Ingredient in Celiac Disease?" - 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
• David Good - "Missing Microbiomes and Where to Find Them: Bridging Science and Advocacy with the Yanomami People" - 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.

This event will also include a Q&A session with the speakers, a research poster competition for trainees, and lab tours in the university’s Summerlee Science Complex.

The event is open to researchers, students, professionals, and the general public with no cost to attend – including a free lunch!

Registration for the in-person event closes June 10th!

We look forward to welcoming you.

Virtual Symposium Option

If you cannot attend the Gairdner Symposium in person but would still like to attend we have a virtual option! Follow this link (https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/gairdner-microbiome-symposium-2024-exploring-nutrition-health-culture-tickets-891741110667) and register for a ticket on the Eventbrite page for the Virtual conference. The virtual option will be offered through Zoom and will broadcast the speaker talks as well as the Q&A session afterwards.

Parking

Visitor parking is available at the University of Guelph, but care must be taken as some parking lots require a pass that is only available to University members. The map below highlights some parking options.

• A daily parking pass is available for $10.55 (tax included) in lots P13, P14, P15, and P19, which are highlighted by pink boxes on the map. You can pre-register for a spot using the link below, and a QR code will be displayed at the check-in desk that can be used to register for a parking spot on the day of the symposium.
• Link for daily parking pass: https://www.offstreet.io/location/1A9OROD1
• The accessibility parking spots use PaybyPhone, an app that is available on the Google play and Apple stores. The accessibility parking spots closest to the event buildings are shown in orange on the map.
• More information on visitor parking at the University can be found at: Visitor Parking | Campus Parking Services (uoguelph.ca)
• The University parking map can be found at: Parking Map and Directions | Campus Parking Services (uoguelph.ca)

Poster Competition

We are excited to announce that the Gairdner Symposium will also include a student poster competition, with prizes awarded to the top three posters.

SUBMISSIONS CLOSED. Thank you to everyone who submitted an abstract!

To submit a poster abstract (deadline for abstract submission is May 22, 2024)

• Register for a Poster Competition Entry ticket
• A Poster Competition ticket does not automatically give you entry to the symposium, please be sure to also register for a "Full-day "Gairdner Symposium" ticket as well.
• Fill out a Google Form to submit your abstract (https://forms.gle/oxBStetRMxiKr7sW8)
• 50 abstracts will be selected; presenters will be notified of acceptance by May 29
• If your abstract is not selected, you are still welcome to attend the event!
• If your abstract is selected be ready to prepare a poster that is 3' wide by 4' tall (91.44cm x 121.92cm), portrait orientation.
• A local poster printing option will emailed out to chosen abstract authors.
• All microbiome-related submissions will be considered (they do not need to be human microbiome-related).

Book Signing with David Good

The third speaker of the day, David Good, has a new graphic novel out (May 14th!) "GOOD -From the Amazon Jungle to Suburbia and Back" and he will be signing books in the Summerlee Science Complex, Waasamowin (Atrium) during the poster displays.

Lab Tours in the Summerlee Science Complex

Take a guided tour of some microbiome research labs in the Summerlee Science Complex, including the Robogut Lab. Limited spots are available, and tours will be in groups of 12. Three groups will begin the 45-minute tour at 2:30, and 3 groups will begin at 3:30. Instructions on where to meet in Waasamowin (Atrium) will be provided to those who register for this component of the event. Please note that your tour ticket does not include access to the speaker talks and Q&A. Therefore, it is important to purchase both a Gairdner Symposium ticket and a lab tour ticket to have access to both parts of the event.