Benelux Metabolomics Days 2024

For the 2024 BMD edition we travelled to Ghent to welcome more than 100 enthusiast Benelux metabolomics researchers. The first session entitled The impact of metabolomics on nutrition research: past, present & future, was co-hosted with the NuGO Association's annual conference and perfectly merged the end of the 20th NuGO Week and the start of the Benelux Metabolomics Days 2024, in which researchers interacted with each other's research areas. 

In the sessions, leading experts discussed with the community cutting-edge science in the areas of Exposome & Microbiome, Metabolomics in Populational Health, Lipidomics, Metabolomics in Biomedical Applications, Plant Metabolomics and Computational Metabolomics & Metabolite Identification. 

During these two conference days, we enjoyed great metabolomics science and Belgian hospitality for which we are both grateful. The Benelux Metabolomics Days has succeeded again in bringing together the Metabolomics community of the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg to discuss recent metabolomics research with young, talented early career researchers and senior scientists. Thanks again to the presenters, chairs and audience for creating an inspiring atmosphere. You all did a fantastic job presenting and being very active and during the discussions, poster presentations and the networking dinner.  

Best Poster Award 2024 

The BEST POSTER 2024 during the Benelux Metabolomics Days was awarded to Begoña Talavera Andújar of the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg. Her poster entitled “Exploring Environmental Modifiers of LRRK2-Associated Parkinson's Disease Penetrance through Exposomics and Metagenomics of Household Dust” received a travel grant of €500 to participate in a conference of her choice. Well done Begoña, congratulations once again! Let us know to which conference of your choice you would like to travel with the award money! 

Young NMC Symposium prior to the Benelux Metabolomics Days 

On Wednesday, September 4th, 2024, the Young NMC Symposium took place at the VIB in Ghent, Belgium, hosted by the VIB Metabolomics Core Ghent. The symposium served as a dynamic platform for early-career researchers in metabolomics, offering them the chance to showcase their work through both oral and poster presentations. The event fostered an informal and collaborative environment, encouraging participants to engage in meaningful discussions and expand their professional networks.  

Attended by participants from several universities in the Benelux region, the symposium provided ample opportunity to establish new connections and explore potential research collaborations. The program featured two keynote speakers: Prof. Kris Laukens, professor of bioinformatics and biological data mining at the University of Antwerp, and Dr. Marco Giampà, an expert in imaging mass spectrometry. 

We look forward to seeing you all in Leiden, the Netherlands this summer.