PhD Course on “Gut Biology”
Report by miTarget Phd students Hina Ayub & Laura Mews
Having the chance to talk in depth with colleagues outside our usual lab work shows why structured academic courses are so valuable.
The PhD Course on “Gut Biology”, held from 20-23 April 2026, brought together early-career researchers and leading experts to discuss current developments in microbiome research, immunology, and host-microbe interactions. The course was jointly organized and supported by miTarget (scientific organizer: Andre Franke), the Danish Diabetes and Endocrine Academy, the University of Copenhagen, the International Center of Kiel University, the DFG Cluster of Excellence Precision Medicine in Chronic Inflammation, and Kiel Life Science.
We participated in the interactive and interdisciplinary course that took place at the scenic Sinatur Hotel Gl. Avernæs in Ebberup, Denmark. Its peaceful surroundings created an ideal atmosphere for focused scientific exchange and networking beyond the formal programme. Researchers and speakers from Germany, Denmark, the United States, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom contributed to a programme that combined conceptual discussions with practical training in modern microbiome research.
Involvement of miTarget throughout the Programme
miTarget was strongly represented throughout the course, with 13 miTarget members participating and several researchers contributing to the scientific programme through talks and workshops.
The programme opened with a presentation by Astrid Dempfle (INF), who provided an introductory talk on the “Statistical Methods for Microbiome Data.” Felix Sommer (P4) gave valuable insights in his presentation on “Gnotobiotic Mice – A Powerful Model System to Study Host-Microbiome Interactions In Vivo”. Andre Geisler (P2), also contributed to the programme by presenting research from his PhD project in the talk “Diversity and Function of Bacterial Extracellular Vesicles from the Gut Microbiome Across Hosts and Bacterial Species.”
In addition to lectures, miTarget researchers organized and led several hands-on workshops. Corinna Bang (P1), Felix Sommer (P4), and Evelina Stankevic Forman (University of Copenhagen) conducted the workshop “Designing Functional Microbiome Studies,” which encouraged participants to discuss experimental strategies and study design in an interactive setting.
We participated in the workshop, “Hands-on Metagenome Analysis: A Parkinson’s Disease Case Study,” which was led by Olga Brovkina (P2) and with Álvaro Quevedo Olmos (IKMB, Kiel). Participants gained practical experience in shotgun metagenomics, including data generation and analysis workflows. The workshop also demonstrated how machine learning approaches are increasingly being integrated into microbiome research to support prediction models and the interpretation of complex datasets.
Diverse and Interdisciplinary Scientific Topics
The programme featured numerous additional highlights spanning multiple disciplines within microbiome research. We found the sessions on the microbiome’s role in forensic science, presented in the evening lecture by Jan Euteneuer and Miriam Beinicke (Kiel University), particularly interesting, as they demonstrated how microbial signatures can support investigations.
Another highlight was learning how the oral cavity is linked to diseases throughout the body, including cardiometabolic conditions in a talk by Evelina Stankevic Forman (University of Copenhagen). We also discussed the gut-brain-liver axis in the context of a highly engaging interactive tandem talk by Christoph Schramm, Lorenz Adlung and Victor Haas (UKE, Hamburg).
A further key topic was the application of artificial intelligence in microbiome science. Under the theme “Artificial Intelligence – Will It Be of Help in Microbiome Research?”, Eric Alm (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US) and Ophelia Venturelli (Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, US) discussed how AI-driven approaches can support data analysis, modelling, and the interpretation of complex microbial systems.
Poster Prize for miTarget Researcher
The poster session formed another important part of the course, providing PhD students with the opportunity to present their research, exchange ideas, and receive feedback from peers and senior scientists. Among the awarded posters, Saskia Weber-Stiehl (P4) received first prize for her contribution titled “Microbial suppression of epithelial hexokinase domain containing 1 (HKDC1) boosts mucosal regeneration protecting from intestinal inflammation.”
Outside of the academic sessions, the informal chats during coffee breaks, meals, and “Meet the Speaker” sessions were just as valuable. The setting encouraged open conversations in which people shared both scientific ideas and personal or career experiences.
Overall, the course was a rewarding experience for both learning and personal growth. We are grateful to the organizers for putting together such a thoughtful and engaging programme, and we look forward to joining future courses.
Authors:
Hina Ayub, 2nd Year PhD student, P2
Laura Mews, 1st year PhD student, P2