Animal Microbiome USA 2018
Animal Microbiome USA
21-22 March, 2018
Kansas City, USA

Why Attend

The Animal Microbiome Congress USA brings together leading veterinary researchers, innovative biotechnology companies, feed and strain manufacturers, animal breeders and producers, pharmaceutical companies, regulatory bodies, and cutting-edge solution providers to understand the latest research focusing on manipulating the animal microbiome, form successful product development strategies, and facilitate collaborations and business partnering.

Techniques and products that manipulate the animal microbiome are set to be the next frontier in superior disease therapeutics, diagnostics, and nutrition in livestock, companion animals, and aquaculture. The conference will showcase unpublished data, new technologies, and translational case studies presented by leading academic and industry experts. Our ‘MEETING MOJO’ platform will allow you to schedule meetings across the two conference days to facilitate future collaborations and business partnering. 

The Agenda

Find out all you need to know about our speakers, innovation showcase, venue, prices and more in our full agenda.

Download Full Agenda

Conference Packages

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The Speakers

 

Mallory Embree

CO-founder and Chief Scientific Officer
Ascus

Mallory’s entire career has focused on researching and developing new methodologies to study both natural and synthetic microbial communities. Her area of expertise centers around the integration of bioinformatics with multiple omics datasets, physiological measurements, and metabolic modeling to examine microbial communities from a species-centric perspective.

Mallory Embree

CO-founder and Chief Scientific Officer
Ascus

Mallory Embree

CO-founder and Chief Scientific Officer
Ascus

Mallory’s entire career has focused on researching and developing new methodologies to study both natural and synthetic microbial communities. Her area of expertise centers around the integration of bioinformatics with multiple omics datasets, physiological measurements, and metabolic modeling to examine microbial communities from a species-centric perspective. She has studied microbial communities from a diverse range of environments beyond livestock, including liver-disease mouse models, human skin microbiomes, brewery wastewater digesters, slow-growing methanogenic alkane-degrading enrichments, and low-biomass deep subsurface sediments from the ocean gyres.
Together with her co-founder, Mike Seely, Mallory founded Ascus Biosciences in 2015 to discover, develop, and commercialize first-in-class endomicrobial products for the animal health & nutrition industries. Outside of her passion for microbial communities and microbial product development, Mallory spends a lot of her free time working on airplanes, hot-air balloons and doing yoga. Mallory received her Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the University of California, San Diego.

About Ascus
Ascus Biosciences, based in San Diego, CA, is focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing first-in-class endomicrobial products for the animal health and nutrition industries. Founded in 2015, Ascus is pioneering the emerging science of endomicrobial ecology to illuminate microbial communities within animals, and the role they play in overall health and performance. Ascus has a broad pipeline of all-natural, endomicrobial products in development across livestock and companion animals. Galaxis is their lead product and could launch as early as 2018 in the dairy market.

 

Professor Albert Jergens

Professor of Internal Medicine and Associate Chair for Research and Graduate Studies
Iowa State University CVM

Clinical interests: gastroenterology, endoscopy, inflammatory bowel disease, performance of clinical trials. Research interests: endoscopy, GI immunology, host-microbiota interactions mediating GI health and disease.

Professor Albert Jergens

Professor of Internal Medicine and Associate Chair for Research and Graduate Studies
Iowa State University CVM

Professor Albert Jergens

Professor of Internal Medicine and Associate Chair for Research and Graduate Studies
Iowa State University CVM

Clinical interests: gastroenterology, endoscopy, inflammatory bowel disease, performance of clinical trials. Research interests: endoscopy, GI immunology, host-microbiota interactions mediating GI health and disease.

 

Aline Rodrigues Hoffmann

Assistant Professor
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology College of Veterinary Medicine Texas A&M University

Aline Rodrigues Hoffmann, DVM, MS, PhD, Diplomate American College of Veterinary Pathologists, Assistant Professor at the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, USA. She is one of the pathologists at the Dermatopathology Specialty Service offered by Texas A&M University. Her research is primarily focused on studying the bacterial and fungal microbiome in the skin of companion animals, and correlating microbiome changes with development and pathogenesis of skin diseases.

Aline Rodrigues Hoffmann

Assistant Professor
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology College of Veterinary Medicine Texas A&M University

Aline Rodrigues Hoffmann

Assistant Professor
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology College of Veterinary Medicine Texas A&M University

Aline Rodrigues Hoffmann, DVM, MS, PhD, Diplomate American College of Veterinary Pathologists, Assistant Professor at the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, USA. She is one of the pathologists at the Dermatopathology Specialty Service offered by Texas A&M University. Her research is primarily focused on studying the bacterial and fungal microbiome in the skin of companion animals, and correlating microbiome changes with development and pathogenesis of skin diseases. Other aspects of her research include basic dermatopathology, pathogenesis of infectious diseases, and microbiology. She is the author and co-author of several articles describing the skin Microbiome in companion animals.  She has also been involved and dedicated to diagnostic pathology, and training of professional students and veterinary pathology residents. She is a member of the American Academy of Veterinary Dermatology, International Society of Veterinary Dermatopathology, American College of Veterinary Pathologists, and American Society of Microbiology. 

 

Mathieu Castex, Ph.D

R&D Director
Lallemand

Mathieu Castex has been with Lallemand Animal Nutrition for close to a decade, committed since the beginning of his career to developing new applications for probiotics and yeast fractions applied to livestock and companion animals.

Mathieu Castex, Ph.D

R&D Director
Lallemand

Mathieu Castex, Ph.D

R&D Director
Lallemand

Mathieu Castex has been with Lallemand Animal Nutrition for close to a decade, committed since the beginning of his career to developing new applications for probiotics and yeast fractions applied to livestock and companion animals.

Mathieu is based at Lallemand Animal Nutrition’s headquarters near Toulouse, France, and is acting as head of the R&D department. He manages a multicultural team of microbiologists, physiologists and nutritionists conducting research projects aiming at developing and/or documenting the effects of microbial based feed additives on the performance and health of livestock. Particular efforts are dedicated to research aiming at revealing the biological mechanisms involved in the interactions between the animal (the host) and its microbiota, and how those interactions drive animal feed efficiency and health. Mathieu also manages the Lallemand Centers of Excellence, research platforms across Europe and North America dedicated to the understanding of microbial ecosystems , product development and investigation of their modes of action, and he is also in charge of a wide partnership network with research institutes across the world.

 

Mathieu holds a Master in animal sciences and a PhD in microbiology and physiology of nutrition applied to aquatic organisms from AgroParisTech (France). After a period at IFREMER (French Institute of Marine Science), he developed transversal experiences in terms of marketing, business development, bioprocessing and Research and Development. His major research interests are about the understanding of the complex interactions between the animal and its intestinal microbiota resulting in responses at the local (Gastrointestinal tract) and systemic levels. 

 

 

 

Amy Biddle

Assistant Professor, Animal and Food Sciences
University of Delaware

Amy Biddle earned her PhD in Microbiology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and continued with postdoctoral study with Dr Roderick Mackie at the University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign. Her research focuses on the equine gut microbiome in health and disease.  The Biddle Lab launched the Equine Microbiome Project in 2015, the first large-scale survey of the equine gut microbiome.

Amy Biddle

Assistant Professor, Animal and Food Sciences
University of Delaware

Amy Biddle

Assistant Professor, Animal and Food Sciences
University of Delaware

Amy Biddle earned her PhD in Microbiology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and continued with postdoctoral study with Dr Roderick Mackie at the University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign. Her research focuses on the equine gut microbiome in health and disease.  The Biddle Lab launched the Equine Microbiome Project in 2015, the first large-scale survey of the equine gut microbiome. As a growing collection of gut microbe and horse health data, the EMP database is being used to identify patterns between the equine microbiome and factors such as age, diet, exercise, and metabolic state. Related projects in the Biddle Lab include in vitro experiments focusing on equine gut community function, and projects to survey equine gastrointestinal parasites, specifically taxa differences between small strongyles related to dewormer resistance.   

 

Brandon Reinbold

Principal Research Scientist, Food Animal Research
Elanco Animal Health

Brandon Reinbold

Principal Research Scientist, Food Animal Research
Elanco Animal Health

Brandon Reinbold

Principal Research Scientist, Food Animal Research
Elanco Animal Health
 

Dr. Yeoman

Assistant Professor Gastrointestinal Microbiology
Montana State University

Dr. Yeoman’s research seeks to uncovering the various forces shaping the structure and function of host-associated microbial communities and understanding their impact on host nutrition, health and development. His work to date has focussed on the microbial communities associated with humans, wild and captive primates, and various agriculturally-important livestock species, including cattle and sheep and transcends gastrointestinal and reproductive tract niches.

Dr. Yeoman

Assistant Professor Gastrointestinal Microbiology
Montana State University

Dr. Yeoman

Assistant Professor Gastrointestinal Microbiology
Montana State University

Dr. Yeoman’s research seeks to uncovering the various forces shaping the structure and function of host-associated microbial communities and understanding their impact on host nutrition, health and development. His work to date has focussed on the microbial communities associated with humans, wild and captive primates, and various agriculturally-important livestock species, including cattle and sheep and transcends gastrointestinal and reproductive tract niches. Dr Yeoman’s research employees multiple molecular methods and often involves longitudinal and biospatial analyses which he believes are critical to understanding the true impact of the microbiota.

 

Jan Suchodolski

Associate Professor and Associate Director
GI Lab

Jan S. Suchodolski graduated with a veterinary degree from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria in 1997. In 2005 Dr. Suchodolski received his PhD in Veterinary Microbiology from Texas A&M University for his work on molecular markers for the assessment of the intestinal microbiota. He is board certified in immunology by the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists (ACVM). He currently serves as Associate Professor and Associate Director of the GI Lab, a leading research and service laboratory for diagnosis of gastrointestinal disease in companion animals.

Jan Suchodolski

Associate Professor and Associate Director
GI Lab

Jan Suchodolski

Associate Professor and Associate Director
GI Lab

Jan S. Suchodolski graduated with a veterinary degree from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria in 1997. In 2005 Dr. Suchodolski received his PhD in Veterinary Microbiology from Texas A&M University for his work on molecular markers for the assessment of the intestinal microbiota. He is board certified in immunology by the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists (ACVM). He currently serves as Associate Professor and Associate Director of the GI Lab, a leading research and service laboratory for diagnosis of gastrointestinal disease in companion animals. Over the last 10 years, the GI Laboratory has developed and validated several novel biomarkers for diagnosing and assessing severity of disease in gastrointestinal inflammation and microbiota dysbiosis. His research interest focusses on characterization of intestinal microbiota and metabolome in animal models with spontaneously occurring inflammatory bowel diseases and how the perturbations are modulated by various treatments.  

 

Julie Veryser

Associate Researcher
ProDigest

Julie Veryser

Associate Researcher
ProDigest

Julie Veryser

Associate Researcher
ProDigest
 

Ryan Aresnault

Assistant Professor, Dept. of Animal and Food Sciences
University of Delaware

Dr. Ryan Arsenault is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences at the University of Delaware. Dr. Arsenault’s research at UD centers on kinomics and gut health across food-animal species, and includes the topics of immunometabolism, host-pathogen interactions, feed additives and antibiotic alternatives. Dr.

Ryan Aresnault

Assistant Professor, Dept. of Animal and Food Sciences
University of Delaware

Ryan Aresnault

Assistant Professor, Dept. of Animal and Food Sciences
University of Delaware

Dr. Ryan Arsenault is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences at the University of Delaware. Dr. Arsenault’s research at UD centers on kinomics and gut health across food-animal species, and includes the topics of immunometabolism, host-pathogen interactions, feed additives and antibiotic alternatives. Dr. Arsenault was previously a post-doctoral research scientist with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) where he conducted research on gut health and immunomodulation in chicken and cattle, with the goal of limiting the carry and spread of pathogens important to food safety. Dr. Arsenault received his B.Sc. (2006) and Ph.D. (2012) from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, in biochemistry and conducted his research at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization - International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac). 

 

Gary Tang

Growth Equity Investor
Norwest Venture Partners

Based in Palo Alto, Gary focuses on growth equity investments across a wide range of sectors at Norwest including consumer, retail, internet and education. Gary’s current investments include Bailey44 and Topo Athletic. Gary was previously involved with Norwest’s investments in PCA Skin (acquired by Colgate-Palmolive), The Learning Experience (acquired by Golden Gate Capital), and Turnitin (acquired by Advance).

Gary Tang

Growth Equity Investor
Norwest Venture Partners

Gary Tang

Growth Equity Investor
Norwest Venture Partners

Based in Palo Alto, Gary focuses on growth equity investments across a wide range of sectors at Norwest including consumer, retail, internet and education. Gary’s current investments include Bailey44 and Topo Athletic. Gary was previously involved with Norwest’s investments in PCA Skin (acquired by Colgate-Palmolive), The Learning Experience (acquired by Golden Gate Capital), and Turnitin (acquired by Advance).

 

Ehsan Khafipour

Director, Microbiome Research and Technical Support
Cargill

Ehsan Khafipour

Director, Microbiome Research and Technical Support
Cargill

Ehsan Khafipour

Director, Microbiome Research and Technical Support
Cargill
 

Dr. Vernon L. McIntosh Jr.

Principle Scientist Research and Development Manager
Cargill

Dr. Vernon L. McIntosh Jr.

Principle Scientist Research and Development Manager
Cargill

Dr. Vernon L. McIntosh Jr.

Principle Scientist Research and Development Manager
Cargill
 

Marc Van Eden

Vice President of Business Development
Zymo Research

Marc Van Eden

Vice President of Business Development
Zymo Research

Marc Van Eden

Vice President of Business Development
Zymo Research
 

Steven Frese

Associate Director of Research and Development
Evolve Biosystems

Steven Frese

Associate Director of Research and Development
Evolve Biosystems

Steven Frese

Associate Director of Research and Development
Evolve Biosystems
 

Elizabeth Kim

Technical Services Manager
Dupont Industrial Biosciences Animal Nutrition

Elizabeth Kim

Technical Services Manager
Dupont Industrial Biosciences Animal Nutrition

Elizabeth Kim

Technical Services Manager
Dupont Industrial Biosciences Animal Nutrition
 

Brett Morris

Principal Manager Investments
Techaccel

Brett Morris

Principal Manager Investments
Techaccel

Brett Morris

Principal Manager Investments
Techaccel
 

Michael Kogut

Research Microbiologist
Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center

Dr. Kogut is a Research Microbiologist and Lead Scientist within the Food and Feed Safety research Unit at the Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center, College Station, TX, USA.

Michael Kogut

Research Microbiologist
Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center

Michael Kogut

Research Microbiologist
Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center

Dr. Kogut is a Research Microbiologist and Lead Scientist within the Food and Feed Safety research Unit at the Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center, College Station, TX, USA.

Dr. Kogut’s research is centered on alternatives to antibiotics to control disease and increase production; specifically the development of cost-effective, pre-harvest immunological interventions to improve gut health by studying the role of the microbiota in immunity to infection; the role of dietary metabolites in promoting immune regulation and immune responses to pathogens; tissue specific regulatory responses to infection; characterizing novel molecular targets that mediate the actions of dietary compounds and botanicals in inflammation and immunity; investigating how diet modulates the gut microbiome and mucosal immune responses; and understanding the integration of central metabolic pathways and nutrient sensing with antibacterial immunity and how it alters cellular energy homeostasis and contributes to the prevention or resolution of infectious diseases.  

 

Michael Shields

Director of Swine Nutrition
Cactus Feeders

I went to school for my undergraduate and graduate program at North Carolina State University. I finished in 2013 with a Ph.D. in Animal Science and Nutrition. I then worked for Cape Fear Consulting managing nutrition for several companies. I began working at Cactus Family Farms in 2015. I manage the nutrition program for 35,000 sows from farrow to finish. I currently reside in Raleigh, NC with my wife, Anna. 

Michael Shields

Director of Swine Nutrition
Cactus Feeders

Michael Shields

Director of Swine Nutrition
Cactus Feeders

I went to school for my undergraduate and graduate program at North Carolina State University. I finished in 2013 with a Ph.D. in Animal Science and Nutrition. I then worked for Cape Fear Consulting managing nutrition for several companies. I began working at Cactus Family Farms in 2015. I manage the nutrition program for 35,000 sows from farrow to finish. I currently reside in Raleigh, NC with my wife, Anna. 

 

Thomas Bissot

Global Key Account Manager, Pet Food
Leiber GmbH

Graduated in Veterinary Medicine in 2003 at the University of Liège (Belgium), Thomas BISSOT first gained practical experience in a private clinic in Brussel followed by a small-animal internship at the Veterinary Faculty of Ghent. In 2005, he joined the ROYAL CANIN Research and Development Department as a Clinical Research Project Manager.

Thomas Bissot

Global Key Account Manager, Pet Food
Leiber GmbH

Thomas Bissot

Global Key Account Manager, Pet Food
Leiber GmbH

Graduated in Veterinary Medicine in 2003 at the University of Liège (Belgium), Thomas BISSOT first gained practical experience in a private clinic in Brussel followed by a small-animal internship at the Veterinary Faculty of Ghent. In 2005, he joined the ROYAL CANIN Research and Development Department as a Clinical Research Project Manager. His main scientific interests focused on small animal gastroenterology and obesity biology with the development of satiety protocols designed to decrease the feeling of hunger in dogs and cats in station and field conditions, as well as intensive care/convalescence nutrition support and nutrition management for reducing stress-related behavior in dogs and cats. From 2008 to 2015, Thomas was responsible for Scientific Communication across the East and South Region (Eastern Europe, Middle East, Russia, South Africa, South East Asia and French overseas departments) at ROYAL CANIN International Division. From 2016 to 2017, he also achieved an Executive MBA at the Montpellier Business School in France. Since July 2017, Thomas has been strengthening the LEIBER GmbH sales Team as a Global Key Account Manager for Pet Food. For this new assignment, he will take care of the international market leaders and opinion formers in the pet food industry in order to expedite the expansion of LEIBER yeast functionalities and extracts in the pet food segment around the World.

 

Tim Johnson

Associate Professor, Dept. of veterinary and biomedical sciences
University of Minnesota

Dr. Tim Johnson is a Professor of Microbiology at the University of Minnesota. He received his PhD in Molecular Pathogenesis from North Dakota State University in 2004, followed by postdoctoral studies at Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Johnson joined the University of Minnesota's Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences in 2007. He has since developed an internationally-recognized research and outreach program focused on the genetic mechanisms enabling the spread of antibiotic resistance in Enterobacteriaceae.

Tim Johnson

Associate Professor, Dept. of veterinary and biomedical sciences
University of Minnesota

Tim Johnson

Associate Professor, Dept. of veterinary and biomedical sciences
University of Minnesota

Dr. Tim Johnson is a Professor of Microbiology at the University of Minnesota. He received his PhD in Molecular Pathogenesis from North Dakota State University in 2004, followed by postdoctoral studies at Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Johnson joined the University of Minnesota's Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences in 2007. He has since developed an internationally-recognized research and outreach program focused on the genetic mechanisms enabling the spread of antibiotic resistance in Enterobacteriaceae. In tandem, his work focuses on the identification of antibiotic alternatives that manipulate the animal microbiome allowing for enhanced growth and reduced disease. Dr. Johnson has been working towards defining the baseline gut and respiratory microbiomes in chickens and turkeys, finding bacteria that correlate with enhanced performance, and developing alternative-to-antibiotic strategies using this knowledge. Tim also currently serves as Director of Research and Development at the Mid-Central Research and Outreach Center's Poultry Research Laboratory in Willmar, MN.

 

Nicolas Derome

Département de biologie Faculté des sciences et de génie
Université Laval Diplomas

Nicolas Derome

Département de biologie Faculté des sciences et de génie
Université Laval Diplomas

Nicolas Derome

Département de biologie Faculté des sciences et de génie
Université Laval Diplomas
 

Scott Gustin, DVM, MAM

Managing Director Vet Services
Tyson Foods Corporate

Scott is a native of Gloucester, Virginia growing up on a small family farm raising registered Angus and Hereford cattle.  He received his undergraduate and veterinary degrees at Virginia Tech in 1999 and 2002.  He went on to receive his Masters in Avian Medicine at the University of Georgia.  In 2004 he began his veterinary career at Cobb-Vantress in Siloam Springs.  While at Cobb his job functions included technical service for North America and Asia, internal veterinary service, and the World Director for Quality Assurance, focusing on Salmonella eradication programs.  For the past 6 yea

Scott Gustin, DVM, MAM

Managing Director Vet Services
Tyson Foods Corporate

Scott Gustin, DVM, MAM

Managing Director Vet Services
Tyson Foods Corporate

Scott is a native of Gloucester, Virginia growing up on a small family farm raising registered Angus and Hereford cattle.  He received his undergraduate and veterinary degrees at Virginia Tech in 1999 and 2002.  He went on to receive his Masters in Avian Medicine at the University of Georgia.  In 2004 he began his veterinary career at Cobb-Vantress in Siloam Springs.  While at Cobb his job functions included technical service for North America and Asia, internal veterinary service, and the World Director for Quality Assurance, focusing on Salmonella eradication programs.  For the past 6 years he has held the position of Director of Veterinary Services, Domestic Poultry, for Tyson Foods in Springdale, Arkansas.  

 

Jason Ridlon

Assistant Professor of Gut Microbiology
University of Illinois Urbana

Bile acids are detergent molecules that allow absorption of dietary fats and fat-soluble vitamins into the bloodstream.  Bile acids are synthesized from cholesterol in the liver, secreted into the small intestine where fats are taken up, and transported back to the liver in a recycling process known as the enterohepatic circulation (EHC). The EHC is 95% efficient; however, several hundred milligrams of bile acids enters the large intestine each day where they are converted to toxic and growth-depressing, and carcinogenic secondary bile acids by gut bacteria.

Jason Ridlon

Assistant Professor of Gut Microbiology
University of Illinois Urbana

Jason Ridlon

Assistant Professor of Gut Microbiology
University of Illinois Urbana

Bile acids are detergent molecules that allow absorption of dietary fats and fat-soluble vitamins into the bloodstream.  Bile acids are synthesized from cholesterol in the liver, secreted into the small intestine where fats are taken up, and transported back to the liver in a recycling process known as the enterohepatic circulation (EHC). The EHC is 95% efficient; however, several hundred milligrams of bile acids enters the large intestine each day where they are converted to toxic and growth-depressing, and carcinogenic secondary bile acids by gut bacteria. A major focus of our research is working out the biochemistry and molecular biology of the pathway that leads to secondary bile acids in Clostridium scindens and related species. Furthermore, the Ridlon lab is interested in using high-throughput sequencing and metabolomics in order to understand how Clostridium scindens interacts with the host and other microbes. Bile acids have become a major topic of research recently because far from simple detergents, these molecules are now recognized as hormones regulating diverse physiological and pathophysiological processes. Clostridium scindens can thus be thought of as a hormone-producing bacterium. Indeed, its very name means "to cut", an epithet given because it is capable of "cutting" the side chain of glucocorticoids resulting in the production of androstenes. Glucocorticoids and androstene measurement in stool is the principle means of determining stress in animals important to agriculture and conservation biology. Our lab works on the biochemical pathway leading to androstenes in Clostridium scindens and how these androstenes affect human and animal well-being. Taken together, our focus is on what we term the gut "sterolbiome", the repertoire of microbial genes that metabolize host-derived, dietary, and pharmaceutical steroid molecules. 

 

 

 

Jiangcho Zhao

Assistant Professor Department of Animal Sciences
University of Arkansas

 

My lab focuses on the roles that human and animal microbiome play in health and different diseases. We use interdisciplinary approaches such as multi-omics (e.g. metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, metabolomics), bioinformatics, statistics, big data and mixed culture to, for example:

 

    Characterize and engineer gastrointestinal microbiome to promote human healthy aging, increase animal nutrient utilization and efficiency, production and well-being;

Jiangcho Zhao

Assistant Professor Department of Animal Sciences
University of Arkansas

Jiangcho Zhao

Assistant Professor Department of Animal Sciences
University of Arkansas

 

My lab focuses on the roles that human and animal microbiome play in health and different diseases. We use interdisciplinary approaches such as multi-omics (e.g. metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, metabolomics), bioinformatics, statistics, big data and mixed culture to, for example:

 

    Characterize and engineer gastrointestinal microbiome to promote human healthy aging, increase animal nutrient utilization and efficiency, production and well-being;

    Identify and apply prebiotics and probiotics to increase human and animal health and reduce antibiotics use;

    Study the ecology and evolution of human and animal microbiome;

    Identify airway microbiome biomarkers in human and animal respiratory diseases such as cystic fibrosis, COPD and Bovine Respiratory Disease for early and targeted therapy.

 

Scott Carter

Vice President Microbials Business
Phibro Animal Health

Scott Carter

Vice President Microbials Business
Phibro Animal Health

Scott Carter

Vice President Microbials Business
Phibro Animal Health
 

Brian Oakley

Professor
Western University of Health Sciences

I am a microbial ecologist interested in tackling important problems at the interface of basic and applied research.  The revolution in high-throughput DNA sequencing has conclusively demonstrated the importance of microbial communities for life on earth.

Brian Oakley

Professor
Western University of Health Sciences

Brian Oakley

Professor
Western University of Health Sciences

I am a microbial ecologist interested in tackling important problems at the interface of basic and applied research.  The revolution in high-throughput DNA sequencing has conclusively demonstrated the importance of microbial communities for life on earth.  Microbial ecology cuts across many fields and I have applied the tools and techniques of microbial ecology to disciplines ranging from oceanography to human and animal health.  My graduate training combined classical and microbial ecology but I only considered myself a microbiologist after working in the Microbiology Department of the University of Washington, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and the University of Warwick.  Four years as a research microbiologist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service gave me first-hand knowledge of the poultry industry and a chance to apply the tools and techniques of microbial ecology to veterinary microbiology.  Most of the current focus of my research is on the poultry microbiome and its relationships to food safety, infectious disease, and poultry nutrition.  Our standard toolkit combines field work with classical microbiology, microscopy, quantitative PCR, high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing, metagenomics, and associated bioinformatics.  We are currently funded through several intramural mechanisms, extramural grants, and industry partnerships.

 

Steve Kazemi

CEO/ Co-Founder
Pure Cultures

Steve brings 20-years of manufacturing and operations management experience to the team. Steve founded Pure Cultures because he believes in the “wonder bugs” or probiotics and the benefits they bring to our society. Steve is often called upon as a consultant for struggling companies with their quality systems.

Steve Kazemi

CEO/ Co-Founder
Pure Cultures

Steve Kazemi

CEO/ Co-Founder
Pure Cultures

Steve brings 20-years of manufacturing and operations management experience to the team. Steve founded Pure Cultures because he believes in the “wonder bugs” or probiotics and the benefits they bring to our society. Steve is often called upon as a consultant for struggling companies with their quality systems.

 

Tim McAllister

Principle Scientist Research
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Dr. Tim McAllister grew up on his parents’ cow/calf farm in Innisfail, AB. He obtained a B.Sc. (Agr) and M.Sc. from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, and a Ph.D. (with distinction) in ruminant nutrition and microbiology from the University of Guelph, ON. He accepted an NSERC post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Calgary in 1991, and joined Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Lethbridge, AB in 1992. Dr. McAllister has been a research scientist in Rumen Microbiology, Feed and Nutrition since 1997.

Tim McAllister

Principle Scientist Research
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Tim McAllister

Principle Scientist Research
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Dr. Tim McAllister grew up on his parents’ cow/calf farm in Innisfail, AB. He obtained a B.Sc. (Agr) and M.Sc. from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, and a Ph.D. (with distinction) in ruminant nutrition and microbiology from the University of Guelph, ON. He accepted an NSERC post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Calgary in 1991, and joined Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Lethbridge, AB in 1992. Dr. McAllister has been a research scientist in Rumen Microbiology, Feed and Nutrition since 1997. His research focuses on microbiology, nutrition and beef production and on food and environmental safety issues related to livestock production, strategies for mitigation of Escherichia coli O157:H7, prion inactivation within the environment, and more recently, studies of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria in feedlots. He also has extensive research experience in GHG emissions within animals from manure and the impact of manure handling procedures, such as composting, on emissions. Dr. McAllister has conducted research to examine microbiological and nutritional approaches for mitigating ruminal methanogenesis, and emission of nitrous oxide and methane during composting, using strategies including the use of plant extracts, methanogen inhibitors and dietary formulations to limit methane production. He is the author or co-author of over 520 peer-reviewed scientific papers and 60 reviews, as well as 800 abstracts and conference proceedings, and over 100 final reports for collaborative research projects. Dr. McAllister has been recognized internationally for his leadership role and significant contributions to agricultural research and innovation in the areas of ruminant nutrition/microbiology and molecular biology as they apply to animal health, environmental health and food quality for the benefit of the agricultural industry in Alberta, Canada, and beyond.

 

Ava Firth

Director of R&D
Tonisity

Ava is a veterinarian and board-certified specialist in veterinary emergency and critical care. Originally from Ohio, USA, she has held both private practice and university positions in the USA, Australia and the United Kingdom, specialising in small animal emergencies and lecturing internationally.

Ava Firth

Director of R&D
Tonisity

Ava Firth

Director of R&D
Tonisity

Ava is a veterinarian and board-certified specialist in veterinary emergency and critical care. Originally from Ohio, USA, she has held both private practice and university positions in the USA, Australia and the United Kingdom, specialising in small animal emergencies and lecturing internationally.

Her interest in critical care nutrition, particularly microenteral nutrition, led to her position as Director of Research and Development for Tonisity. She is responsible for designing and coordinating research and trials, as well as managing the product development pipeline and regulatory affairs.

 

Anna Skaya

CEO
basepaws.com

Anna is the founder and CEO of Basepaws, a pet genetics company. Beyond working with pet owners across the world and caring about pet health, Anna is involved in many pet-related groups and event in her local Los Angeles. Her company Basepaws is helping bring visibility to feline health, and massively underfunded area of pet research. Using feline DNA to build animal models for studying disease in both pets and people is something Anna is really proud to be doing. 

Anna Skaya

CEO
basepaws.com

Anna Skaya

CEO
basepaws.com

Anna is the founder and CEO of Basepaws, a pet genetics company. Beyond working with pet owners across the world and caring about pet health, Anna is involved in many pet-related groups and event in her local Los Angeles. Her company Basepaws is helping bring visibility to feline health, and massively underfunded area of pet research. Using feline DNA to build animal models for studying disease in both pets and people is something Anna is really proud to be doing. 

Event Partners

Media Partners

PARTNER WITH US

Based on your objectives, we can create bespoke packages designed specifically for you. Opportunities predominantly lie in 3 main categories: Thought Leadership, Branding, and Networking.

CONTACT US TO FIND OUT MORE

Interested in a media partnership?
We'd love to hear from you and how we can support one another to connect with the industry. Contact [email protected]

Innovation Stage

 

Academics and early stage start-ups are invited to present innovations that they are looking to commercialize. Whether you are looking for investment or just want an expert’s opinion on the next steps in your commercialization journey, this platform will be valuable for you. This platform allows EIGHT presenters to share as much or as little information around their innovation as they feel comfortable, and receive tips and advice from a panel of expert investors, pharmaceutical companies, and successful startups, as well as input from the audience.

Click here to apply

Venue

Doubletree by Hilton Kansas City - Overland Park 10100 College Blvd. Overland Park Kansas 66212

Book your accomodation at our special delegate rate now for $199. 

Click here to claim. 

About Kisaco Research

Kisaco Research produces, designs and hosts B2B industry conferences, exhibitions and communities – focused on a specialized selection of topic areas.

Meet industry peers that will help build a career-changing network for life.

Learn from the mistakes of your peers as much as their successes—ambitious industry stalwarts who are happy to share not just what has made them successful so far but also their plans for future proofing their companies.

Note down the inspired insight that will form the foundation for future strategies and roadmaps, both at our events and through our online communities.

Invest both in your company growth and your own personal development by signing up to one of our events and get started.