Program details and free registration can be found here.
Please note, the webinars and the workshop each require registration to help us manage attendance.
Who should attend?
Students, and professionals from any discipline, are encouraged to attend! The summit is highly interdisciplinary and we welcome diverse perspectives: research presentation and workshop activities represent microbiome, ethics, health, food systems, ecology, and environmental sciences, and more!
What’s the summit about?
Microbiome stewardship is the broad idea that we need to consider ecosystem-level factors when we think about public health, as our environment, behaviors, and public policy affects interactions between microbes and human health. Our ability to develop practices and advocate for policy reform that address societal inequities is limited without a strong microbiome stewardship framework. Led by MSE and the Microbiome Stewardship working group, attendees of the webinars will learn how other researchers engage with microbiome or health stewardship. Participants of the workshops will plan a pathway to bring their own work in line with principles of conservation and stewardship, or design future research to provide tangible and meaningful stewardship endpoints relevant to their area of focus.
Webinars and Case Studies (Monday and Tuesday): Open to everyone, these sessions will feature insightful presentations from leading researchers, policymakers, and community leaders. Join us to hear the latest in microbiome science, social equity, and public health, and leave with new perspectives and ideas to help shape future efforts.
Interactive Workshops (Wednesday and Thursday): Selected participants will come together in these collaborative sessions to co-develop case studies that integrate research, practice, and policy. With a focus on actionable outcomes, these workshops provide an opportunity to work closely with experts and contribute directly to the development of a global microbiome stewardship framework. Participation is by application, ensuring a diverse group of voices and expertise.
Webinar Session 1: Human-centric Microbiome Stewardship
Date: Monday July 7, 2025. 12:00 ~ 5:00 PM Eastern Time
Welcome and Intro to the Summit
Sue Ishaq, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Maine; Founder and Lead, MSE
The Concept of Microbiome Stewardship
Kieran O’Doherty, PhD, Professor, University of Guelph; MSE
Indigenous perspectives on microbiome stewardship and public health.
Nicole Redvers, DPhil, ND, MPH, Associate Professor, Western Research Chair & Director, Indigenous Planetary Health; Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Schulich; Interfaculty Program in Public Health, University of Western Ontario
Interpreting the Flora, Interrupting the Frame: Race and Responsibility in Vaginal Microbiome Research
Ari Kozik, PhD, Assistant Professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan
Microbiome-based therapeutics in clinical practice: how can we be better stewards?
Susy Hota, MD, MSc, FRCPC. Division Head, Infectious Diseases, University Health Network and Sinai Health; Medical Director, Infection Prevention and Control, University Health Network; Co-Lead of the Microbiota Therapeutics Outcomes Program; Associate Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Toronto
The political economy of emerging digital data collection platforms and applications with microbial stewardship.
Victor Secco, PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Philosophy and Cultural Heritage, Ca Foscari University of Venice
Communities and Contexts in Childhood Microbiome Research.
Justine Debelius, PhD. Assistant Scientist, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Webinar Session 2: Environment-centric Microbiome Stewardship
Date: July 8, 2025. 12:00 ~ 5:00 PM Eastern Time
Welcome and Intro to the Summit.
Sue Ishaq, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Maine; Founder and Lead, MSE
Microbiome stewardship curricular design using MSE themes
Carla Bonilla, PhD, Associate Professor of Biology, University of San Diego; MSE
The Concept of Microbiome Stewardship
Mallory Choudoir, PhD, Assistant Professor and Soil Microbiome Extension Specialist, North Carolina State University; MSE
Microbes, microbiomes and biodiversity conservation
Kent Redford, PhD, Principal, Archipelago Consulting
Built environment and microbiome engineering: Responsible Development and Engagement
Jennifer Kuzma, PhD, Professor, School of Public and International Affairs; Co-Director, Genetic Engineering & Society Center; Associate Director, Precision Microbiome Engineering Center (PreMiEr, NSF-ERC); North Carolina State University
Kristen Landreville, PhD, Senior Research Scholar, Societal and Ethical Implications (SEI) Core in the PreMiEr Engineering Research Center, North Carolina State University
Intersections Between the SDOH and Community-Acquired Antibiotic Resistance: A New Role for Environmental Surveillance?
Maya Nadipalli, PhD, Assistant Professor, Emory University
Engaging with Indigenous perspectives related to subsurface microbiome research
Professor Josh Neufield, PhD, Professor, University Research Chair, University of Waterloo
Workshop Sessions 1 and 2: Stewardship Planning Activities
Session 1: Focus on Host Microbiomes, Wednesday July 9, 2025, 1:00 ~ 3:30 PM Eastern Time
Session 2: Focus on Environmental Microbiomes, Thursday July 10; 1:00 ~ 3:30 PM Eastern Time
We will use Zoom Breakout Rooms to form groups of 5 -10 people based on several topic themes. Each group will be led by an invited speaker and an MSE group member, and group notetaking will be facilitated using shared online documents.
Discussion 1 (Foundations)
How does the connection between microbiomes and health (human and non-human) relate with your work? What needs to be stewarded/protected in your area of expertise?
To achieve goals of microbiome stewardship in your area, what interdisciplinary partnerships, or research or education programs need to be developed? What problems exist in your field that prevent implementing research or policy solutions?
Discussion 2 (Policy Connections)
What are the policy domains we need to target for protection of microbial ecosystems to ensure positive health outcomes? What kind of policies could be effective in helping to maintain microbiome health? What agencies or organizations might oversee regulations for the protection of microbial ecosystems? How could one begin to advocate for microbiome health in various policy domains?
Group activity: Create your path to microbiome
In Zoom Breakout Rooms organized by broad topics, we will generate case studies related to our own work which would include microbiome stewardship.First, use the template provided to draw your pathway. Then, design a project or research that would advance you along that path. Finally, identify a task list, time table, list of needs, and list of goals/outputs for the project.
Discussion 3 (Getting Microbiome Stewardship onto the Agenda)
How can we raise awareness about the importance of microbial ecologies in human and planetary health? How can we get the protection of microbial ecosystems onto policy maker agendas? What initiatives currently exist with whom we can seek partnerships?
The Ishaq Lab 