Join us for the official launch of the Imperial Centre for Intestinal Systems (CIS), a new, state-of-the-art facility accelerating human-relevant research in intestinal biology, IBD, host–microbiome interactions, organoids, and gut-on-chip technologies.
This full-day in-person event will bring together leading academics, clinicians, industry partners, funders, and technology developers to explore how CIS will support innovative research through advanced models, cross-platform workflows, and integrated training and services. A short overview of CIS with further background on the Centre and its capabilities is attached for more details.
Through keynote talks, technology demonstrations, a dedicated innovation showcase, networking opportunities, and optional lab tours, attendees will gain first insight into the Centre’s capabilities and how to access its resources.
Whether you work in organoids, gut-on-chip systems, microbiome research, or translational science, this launch marks an exciting opportunity to engage with the growing human-relevant intestinal research community at Imperial and beyond.
Agenda
- 09:30 – 10:00 – Arrival, registration and morning snacks with coffee
- 10:00 – 11:15 – Opening talks and addresses
- Welcome and introduction:
– Dr Tamas Korcsmaros (Director of the Centre for Intestinal Systems) - Opening:
– Prof Graham Cooke (Acting Dean at the Faculty of Medicine)
– Prof Phillip Bennett (Head of the Department of Metabolism Digestion and
Reproduction)
– Prof Nick Powell (Co-Lead of NIHR Imperial BRC Digestive Diseases Theme and
Head of the Section of Hepatology and Gastroenterology)
– Dr Katie Bates (Head of Research Funding at NC3Rs) - Scientific & Medical Need for the Centre:
– Prof George Hanna: Cancer diagnosis and the microbiome
– Dr James Kinross: Colorectal cancer and the microbiome
– Prof Gary Frost: Human-relevant models in nutrition research
– Prof Marc Dumas: Host-microbe interactions and pharmaco-microbiomics - Enabling Technologies & Partners at Imperial:
– Dr Lynn Maslen (National Phenome Centre)
– Dr Benedikt Höbling (Drug Discovery Hub)
- Welcome and introduction:
- 11:15 – 12:15 – Keynote Industrial Talks
- 11:15 – 11:45: Dr Lorna Ewart (Chief Scientific Officer, Emulate)
- 11:45 – 12:15: Dr YongTae Kim (Chief Executive Officer, MEPSGEN)
- 12:15 – 13:00 – Lunch
- 13:00 – 13:30 – Guest Scientific Lecture
– Dr Kaline Arnauts (KU Leuven, Belgium): Patient derived models to study host-microbiome
interactions in inflammatory bowel diseases - 13:30 – 15:25 – Innovation Showcase
– Dr Sylvia Boj (Chief Scientific Officer, HUB Organoids, part of Merck): Patient-derived
Organoids: a preclinical platform for drug development, patient stratification and predictive
diagnostic
– Dr Salvatore Simmini (Director of Research and Development Europe, STEMCELL Technologies)
– Dr Bart Roucourt (Director of Business Development, ProDigest)
– Alessandro Cordiale (BiomimX)
– Dynamic42
– CN-Bio
– Dr Shula Dawson (LI-COR)
– Dr Sasha Berdichevski (Head of Scientific Innovation & Business Development, MEPSGEN) - 15:25 – 15:30: Closing Remarks
- 15:30 – 17:00: Networking Reception
