2025 Virtual Microbiome Symposium

Gut Microbial Metabolites and Their Impact on Host Systems

Join ISB on December 12, 2025, for a virtual symposium on the influence of gut microbial metabolites on human physiology.

A Universe of Metabolites

The intestinal lumen represents a vast and underexplored ecosystem that harbors members of the gut microbiota and a universe of metabolites whose concentrations are dynamically regulated by both host and microbial activity. New classes of metabolites are continuously being unearthed, accompanied by detailed characterization of their effects on host physiology. In this symposium, we will hear from leading experts who will present their groundbreaking work on how specific microbial metabolites influence neural, immune, and endocrine systems.

ISB is hosting this symposium on December 12, 2025. The intended audience is graduate students, postdocs, principal investigators, industry scientists, educators, clinicians, or any other variety of microbiome-curious person from across the globe.

This year our sponsor Applied Microbiology International is offering free memberships to anyone that registers and attends the event. Explore their website and make sure to check the box to opt in when you register.

Questions? Contact us Register Now

Symposium Schedule

All presentation times are shown in Pacific Time (PT).

Time	Talk / Session
9:00	Welcoming remarks by Sid Venkatesh
Session One: Neural Effects
9:10 – 9:15	Chair intro: Nate Ritz
9:15 – 9:45	Brittany Needham, PhD Assistant Professor, Indiana University School of Medicine & Stark Neurosciences Research Institute “Brain-Relevant Microbial Metabolites”
9:45 – 10:15	Giada De Palma, PhD Assistant Professor, McMaster University “The role of gut microbiota in pain neurotransmission”
10:15 – 10:25	Break
Session Two: Immune Effects
10:25 – 10:30	Chair intro: Alex Carr
10:30 – 11:00	June Round, PhD Professor, H.A. and Edna Benning Presidential Endowed Chair, The University of Utah “Microbiota-Immune interactions that promote health”
11:00 – 11:30	Melody Zeng, PhD Associate Professor of Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine “Gut microbiota-immune system crosstalk in early life”
11:30 – 11:40	Break
Session Three: Endocrine Effects
11:40 – 11:45	Chair intro: Crystal Perez
11:45 – 12:15	Matthew Carter, PhD Postdoctoral Fellow, Arc Institute & Stanford University “Dietary modulation of a gut pathobiont links microbial amino acid metabolism to host health”
12:15 – 12:45	Matthew Redinbo, PhD W.R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Biochemistry, Microbiology & Genomics, UNC Chapel Hill “Gut Microbial Enzymes Influence Host Endobiotic Homeostasis”
12:45 – 1:00	Break
1:00 – 1:45	Panel Discussion, chaired by Sid Venkatesh and Sean Gibbons
1:45	Closing remarks by Sean Gibbons