Inter-regulation of gut transport and motility: the way forward

The objective of the workshop is to establish a robust and open international network of researchers dedicated to the study of motility and transport phenomena within the gastrointestinal tract.

This interdisciplinary event will bring together experts in fields such as mechanistic modeling of transport, quantification techniques for gut motility, and applications related to GI tract function.

By fostering collaboration among researchers with diverse expertise—ranging from digestion of foods and microbiology to medical imaging, complex fluid mechanics, biomechanics, and biophysics—we aim to address critical gaps and drive future advancements in the field.

Participate

Participation is limited to 55 attendees, and the workshop is open to scientists at various stages of their careers covering different expertises:

Expertise in mechanistic modelling of transport:

This group encompasses researchers engaged in modelling transport and mass transfers in the GI tract. Their expertise spans various modelling techniques, including fine-grained models, coarse models, analytical representations, and computational fluid dynamics. Their contributions are integral to comprehensively understanding the dynamics of transport phenomena within the gastrointestinal tract.

Development and advancement of quantification techniques for gut motility:

This group consists of specialists in experimental techniques that quantify gut motility and its interplay with luminal content (food, microbiota). They focus on quantifying and 

understanding gut motility and transport in both humans and animals. Their work involves imaging techniques (e.g. MRI), identifying markers in blood and employing diverse experimental models, including in vivo studies, ex vivo experiments, and biomimetics set-up. Their contributions play a foundational role in providing empirical data essential for the development and refinement of mechanistic models.

Expertise in applications of GI tract function:

This category includes scientists from diverse fields who stand to benefit from knowledge about motility and transport phenomena in the gut to advance their respective domains. It encompasses physiologists, nutritionists, microbiologists, immunologists, pharmaceutical researchers, and developers of in vitro models of digestion or in vitro cell assays. The insights shared within this group have the potential to catalyse cross-disciplinary collaborations and enhance applications in various areas related to GI tract function.