MiTarget at the 63rd scientific congress of the German Nutrition Society (DGE)
In early March 2026, four early-career researchers from miTarget attended the 63rd scientific congress on “Nutrition and Microbiome” in Kassel, organised by the German Nutrition Society (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung).
The congress brought together around 800 participants from a wide range of fields: from nutritionists and researchers across various disciplines to catering professionals and policymakers. This diversity of participants reflected the DGE’s unique role in connecting nutritional education, public policy, molecular research, and real-world application.
The scientific program was equally broad, with a clear focus on the interplay between diet, health, and the gut microbiome. Particular emphasis was placed on dietary interventions and their measurable effects on the gut microbiota, as well as the broader implications for human health, including the context of IBD. While many exciting findings were presented, it also became clear that our understanding of the complex interplay between microbes and each individual’s diet, and its effects on the human body in health and disease remains limited.
Representing miTarget, Jan Taubenheim, a postdoctoral researcher in Christoph Kaleta’s group (Z-project), contributed to the program by presenting his approach to metabolic modelling, which is used to investigate the effects of diet on the gut microbiome, and provided insights into computational approaches for studying the interactions between diet and the microbiome.
Beyond the scientific sessions, the congress provided a perfect platform for interdisciplinary exchange, discussions between researchers and practitioners, and highlighting the translational relevance of nutritional science in microbiome research.
We are grateful for this opportunity and to be part of such a dynamic and interdisciplinary scientific community, and we return with fresh ideas, new connections and inspirating perspectives for our future work.