Perhaps this meeting should be renamed "Of Microbiomes and Men" ....

Well, just got an email inviting me to participate in a meeting on microbiomes. The full invite is at the bottom of this posting.  Alas, at first glances it seems this meeting, has, well, some gender issues.

Confirmed Keynote Speakers: both male.

• Mark Adams, Ph.D., Scientific Director, J. Craig Venter Institute, San Diego
• Sarkis K. Mazmanian, Professor of Biology, California Institute of Technology

Confirmed other speakers: all seven male

• Pierre Belichard, Co-founder and CEO, Enterome
• Adam Godzik, Ph.D., Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Professor & Program Director, Sanford-Burnham Research Institute
• JunHua Li, Team Leader of Reference Metagenomics, BGI Research
• Victor Nizet, MD, Professor & Division Chief, Department of Pediatrics, UCSD School of Medicine, San Diego
• Steve Orndorff, NuMe Health
• Andrei Osterman, Ph.D., Professor, Bioinformatics & Systems Biology, Infectious and Inflammatory Disease Center, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute
• Bernd Schnabl, MD, Assistant Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, UCSD School of Medicine, TSRI California Campus

I suppose one could say "Well, they are still working on their agenda ... maybe they will have some female speakers."  So I decided to dig around a little bit more. They provide a link to the outline agenda here. Alas that is even worse.  There we find out who some invited speakers are who have not yet accepted

• David Odelson, R&D Program Director, Life Technologies
• Peter B. DiLaura, President & CEO, Second Genome
• Chris Christofferson, Morganthaler Ventures 
• Lou Tartaglia, Third Rock Ventures
• Mike Grey, Pappas Ventures
• Justin L. Sonnenburg, Assistant Professor, Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA

So that is 9 confirmed speakers and six invited speakers - all of whom are male.  Great.  Here is a suggestion.  DO NOT GO TO THIS MEETING.

The Microbiome / Microbiota R&D and Business Collaboration Forum Special August Registration Discount SAVE 15% use discount code NN/AUG15/AL Keynote speakers: Mark Adams, Ph.D., Scientific Director, J. Craig Venter Institute, San Diego Sarkis K. Mazmanian, Professor of Biology, California Institute of Technology

Dear Jonathan The announcement in June that Johnson & Johnson is collaborating with Second Genome, one of the first biotech companies focused entirely on the human microbiome, is, according to Forbes magazine, a turning point at which “big Pharma” money begins to back this new field of research. The 1-2 kilograms of bacteria living inside, and on the surface of, all human beings - the Human Microbiome - constitutes both another "human" organ and a third protective "immune system" after the innate and adaptive immune systems. This mix of good and bad bacteria, long a subject of academic interest, has been linked to everything from infectious diseases like clostridium difficile to obesity and even mental health. Now that the commercial potential of this field of research is being recognized it is attracting venture capital and other funding. The developments in research and the commercial possibilities are the subject of The Microbiome/Microbiota R&D and Business Collaboration Forum, which will take place in San Diego onOctober 7th & 8th 2013. Register today to secure the August 15% booking discount: www.globalengage.co.uk/microbiome.html Any questions? email nnoakes@globalengage.co.uk or telephone +44 (0)1865 849841

Confirmed Keynote Speakers Mark Adams, Ph.D., Scientific Director, J. Craig Venter Institute, San Diego Sarkis K. Mazmanian, Professor of Biology, California Institute of Technology Confirmed Speakers Pierre Belichard, Co-founder and CEO, Enterome Adam Godzik, Ph.D., Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Professor & Program Director, Sanford-Burnham Research Institute JunHua Li, Team Leader of Reference Metagenomics, BGI Research Victor Nizet, MD, Professor & Division Chief, Department of Pediatrics, UCSD School of Medicine, San Diego Steve Orndorff, NuMe Health Andrei Osterman, Ph.D., Professor, Bioinformatics & Systems Biology, Infectious and Inflammatory Disease Center, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute Bernd Schnabl, MD, Assistant Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, UCSD School of Medicine, TSRI California Campus

This first-in-class, microbiome-focused hybrid R&D and business conference attracting 150 attendees from all over the world, plus an exceptional speaker faculty, will provide an interactive networking forum to both further research and commercialization opportunities.  It also aims to answer your queries through a vibrant exhibition room full of technology providers showcasing their R&D platforms & services; as well as via scientific poster sessions; expert-led case-study presentations; and interactive Q&A panel discussions.

The Outline Agenda www.globalengage.co.uk/microbiome/MicrobiomeAgenda2013.pdf Sequencing/Bioinformatics of the Microbiome An overview of the human microbiome project Contributions to Metagenomics and Data Analysis Advances in sequencing technologies The role of chip technologies (the Phylo chip) as a rapid readout vs. sequencing The $1000 genome may cost $100Ms to interpret! Venture Capital + Technology Transfer Commercializing Microbiome Technologies from Government & Academic Entities International Small Company Showcase The microbiome of the GI tract The role of commensal bacteria in regulating the immune system Metabolic exchange in gut microbial communities: who needs vitamins? Contemplating novel antibiotic therapies that do not destroy the healthy microbiome Metagenomic profiling in IBD Clinical Applications The contribution of the gut microbiome to liver disease Treatment of C. Difficile infections with fecal transplants Connections to the Food World The role of diet in regulating the microbiome mix Prebiotics vs. probiotics vs. pharmaceuticals Opportunities to treat diabetes and obesity via the microbiome Panel Discussion – Pharma/Biotech/Food Industry Partnering Small Company Showcases

www.globalengage.co.uk/microbiome.html

Not interested in the Microbiome/Microbiota? Unsubscribe here Nick Noakes: nnoakes@globalengage.co.uk Tel +44 (0) 1865 849841 Global Engage, The Kidlington Centre, Kidlington, Oxfordshire, OX5 2DL, UK.

You might think that at some point some of the people organizing meetings