Science Researcher Update: Spotlight on Meetings, Conferences, and Events

 

Conference - Big Sky, MT, United States

 

This new FASEB Science Research Conference (SRC) focuses on state-of-the-science (including research gaps) related to origins and benefits of biologically-active components in human milk. Although many of these milk constituents? for example oligosaccharides, immune cells, and microbes? have been studied for decades, new analytical approaches, research findings, and paradigm shifts are rapidly providing new insights as to how they might impact both maternal and infant health. Moreover, interdisciplinary work is beginning to shed light on how these factors might be interacting in both the mammary gland and the infant's gastrointestinal tract. Topics programmed as major conference symposia include oligosaccharide synthesis (both in vivo and industrial), metabolism, analysis, and roles in the body; the human milk microbiome and computational approaches needed to understand its complexity, effectors, and functions; and the analysis and role of host cells (immune and otherwise) in human milk. The relationship between milk constituents and food allergies will also be discussed, as will the emerging area of milk genomics. Several hallmarks of this meeting make it especially timely and applicable to myriad and diverse scientists and others interested in research related to human milk composition and lactation. For instance, the organizers have carefully structured the conference to foster substantial opportunities for formal and informal interactions between academicians and individuals working in the private (industry) sector. Development of newly-emerging talent and collaborations will also be encouraged via informal, inclusive "meet-the-expert" luncheons geared not only toward connecting young scientists-in-training with established researchers in the field but in some cases forging new interfaces among senior scientists who have not interacted previously. In this way, the organizers are confident that the program will facilitate fruitful bridge building and cross-talk between and among multiple areas of science, techniques, and skill levels to inspire new innovations and quality science and application within the important area of human milk and lactation.

 

 

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