miGut-Health Kick-off Meeting Successfully Held in Kiel

The miGut-Health Kick-off meeting was successfully held on 22 and 23 May in Kiel, Germany. Hosted by the project coordinator, Professor Andre Franke, and his team at UKSH, the first in-person meeting of our consortium gathered around 40 project members from 10 partner institutions, along with four members of the Scientific Advisory Board. Several consortium members also joined online.

On the first day, the meeting took place at Seeburg, CAU Kiel’s venue overlooking the sea. Work package leaders presented their study progress and focused on open questions, followed by a presentation from the European Commission project officer. After a coffee break, attendees split into two groups for parallel breakout sessions to discuss topics shared by particular work packages (WPs). Four separate sessions were held involving six work packages. The formal programme on Day 1 concluded with a talk from our scientific advisor, Dr Konstantinos Gerasimidis from the University of Glasgow, who presented results and challenges from one of his IBD studies. His presentation was so engaging that we were almost late for dinner at the Blossom Beach restaurant! Luckily, we got there in time and enjoyed wonderful food, a beautiful sea view and lively conversations.

On the second day, the meeting was held at Zentrum Molekulare Biowissenschaften (ZMB) overlooking the botanical garden. Our consortium members Guendalina Graffigna from UCSC and Maria Stella de Rocchis from EFCCA started with a presentation on patient involvement and encouraged a discussion on representing the IBD community in scientific environments and including them in our project activities. After presentations on project communication, dissemination, exploitation, and management (WPs 7 and 8), work package leaders presented highlights and conclusions from their breakout sessions and action points for the future. The two days were full of serious project-related discussions as well as enjoyable informal conversations and networking.

Parallel breakout sessions on Day 1: WPs 1 & 4 ...

... and WPs 5 & 6

Project co-coordinator, Jurgita Skieceviciene, presenting on Day 1

Consortium members during a presentation at Seeburg – Day 1

Group photo in front of ZMB – Day 2 location