January 9-10, 2019. M3 meeting on Predictions and the Microbiome

Location: Johns Hopkins University, Homewood Campus, Baltimore, MD
Abstract submission link: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=m32019

January 9, 2019. M3 meeting on Predictions and the Microbiome

Researchers rely on predictions in microbiome research in many different ways, yet more work is needed to develop reliable predictions for many microbiome applications. Researchers have developed techniques to mine the microbiome to reveal components that can be used to predict both environment conditions and disease states. For example, the composition of the microbiome has been used extensively to predict environmental conditions, from pH to particle export in the ocean, and diseases, from inflammatory bowel disease to cancer from existing datasets. Some studies have attempted to provide a truly predictive forecast of microbiome changes anticipated at a future state, with some success. These include forecasts of harmful algal blooms, the growth of harmful microorganisms given storage conditions in food safety and even flu strain spread in public health. However, understanding how to predict and control environmental and human microbiomes is a major challenge facing microbiome researchers. Throughout this meeting, we will highlight research topics that advance the use of predictive techniques in microbiome analysis and challenge participants to identify the biggest barriers to applying prediction in their field of study.

Final meeting agenda

JHU campus map – directions and further maps available here: https://www.jhu.edu/maps-directions/

January 10, 2019. Hands-on Workshop on Taxonomic Annotation

The workshop will take place between 9am and 4pm, see agenda here: Taxonomy workshop agenda.

The workshop will be held in room UTL G98 (undergraduate teaching lab G98) located on the ground floor of Mudd Hall (Biology Department building #54, see map above).

Post-meeting report

Sakowski, E., Uritskiy, G., Cooper, R., Gomes, M., McLaren, M. R., Meisel, J. S., … & Preheim, S. P. (2019). Current state of and future opportunities for prediction in microbiome research: report from the Mid-Atlantic Microbiome Meet-up in Baltimore on 9 January 2019. Msystems, 4(5), e00392-19. https://doi.org/10.1128/mSystems.00392-19