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Microbiome research has generated a wealth of information, but the science can become lost in translation from research to actionable interventions in clinical veterinary practice. Attend the Purina Institute’s Microbiome Forum to discover how you can implement microbiome-centric approaches to facilitate case management. We’re collaborating with Dr. Jan Suchodolski from Texas A&M University’s Gastrointestinal Laboratory to bring global experts together to provide cutting-edge, yet immediately useful, information. Topics include:
See the full program below for all of the sessions.
To access a printable version of the full program, please Click Here
Approximately 70% of the cells of the immune system are in the gut, indicating the importance of the gut and microbiome in host immunity and inflammation. This presentation explores the mechanisms of host-microbe interactions and variation in their relationships throughout the animal kingdom.
This presentation provides a clinically-focused overview of gut microbiome composition and how it affects and is affected by host health and disease.
Learn how probiotic strains are identified and developed, and discuss common myths and misconceptions about the characteristics and actions of probiotics and synbiotics.
This presentation provides an in-depth review of available microbiome assays and how they may be used to customize case management.
Explore the current clinical evidence for probiotics and synbiotics for dogs and cats, including their non-gastrointestinal effects, as well as guidance for selection of the appropriate pro/synbiotic for clinical cases.
Explore the current best practices for case management of acute and chronic enteropathies.
Probiotics and synbiotics exert their effects through numerous mechanisms. Explore the current scientific evidence behind their role in modulating the host immune response.
Enteropathies can affect, and be affected by, gut barrier function. Discover the role of the gut barrier in preserving GI and host health; the long-term implications of compromised gut barrier function; and methods to try to restore and preserve barrier function in clinical cases.
Explore current knowledge of the oral microbiome, including its development and the impact of dental disease and dental cleaning.
This presentation provides in-depth information on the growing evidence supporting the pivotal role of the gut-brain axis in cognition, anxiety and epilepsy in humans and pets.
Explore the currently available microbiome tests available to veterinarians and pet owners, and learn how to interpret and apply the results to case management.
Diet offers a daily opportunity to affect the microbiome. Learn about the mechanisms and impact of macronutrient changes and fiber on gut health and the microbiome, with a focus on clinical relevance.
This presentation provides an overview of how diet and nutrition impacts the microbiome in health and disease, and how nutrition can play a role in microbiome-centric case management.
Experts discuss the current evidence for FMT, its benefits and risks, how it should be performed, and when FMT is appropriate in clinical cases.
The Purina Institute is a global professional organization with a mission to advance nutrition science. As the voice of Purina’s science, the Purina Institute represents a diverse team of more than 500 scientists and pet care experts around the world. The Purina Institute shares Purina’s groundbreaking research and latest scientific findings in pet nutrition so veterinarians and other pet professionals can make nutrition a foundational element of their conversations with pet owners.
The Purina Institute aims to help put nutrition at the forefront of pet health discussions by providing user-friendly, science-based information that helps pets live better, longer lives.
For more information about the Purina Institute, please visit: www.purinainstitute.com
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I am a project scientist in the Center for Microbiome Innovation at UCSD School of Medicine, and a scientific affiliate with the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, IL. I study the evolution of host-symbiont systems and immunology. My research integrates natural history collections with metagenomic, metabolomic, and histological methods to investigate the evolutionary processes shaping these associations in animal systems. I also apply these methods to clinical and experimental investigations into the role of bacterial symbionts in humans and disease phenotypes. Continuing interests and collaborations involve the evolution and ecology of malarial parasites and related haemosporidia and biotic inventories of tropical ecosystems. I received my Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology (‘16) from Cornell University, where I was affiliated with the Department of Ecology and Evolution, the Lab of Ornithology, and the Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Natalia Wagemans is the Global Head of the Purina Institute with Head Quarter in St Louis, USA.
Dr Wagemans graduated in pediatrics with postgraduate certification in Neonatology. Her academic carrier was related to the pediatric healthcare and nutrition in the State Medical University in Russia. PhD scientific research was performed in the field of iodine deficiency and cardiovascular system in children. She had over 100 scientific presentation at the different medical & scientific forums and over 40 publication in peer reviewed journals. She joined Nestlé in 2002 working in different areas of infant nutrition in Russia & CIS, India, Bangladesh, Sri-Lanka, Switzerland. From 2014 she was appointed as the Global Head of the Nestle Nutrition Institute (NNI) in Switzerland. Under her leadership, Institute became a one of the credible educational platforms in area of nutrition with a global on-line membership of 500’000 health professional from 191 countries.
Since 2020, Dr Wagemans leads the Purina Institute, which is the global organization that dedicated to sharing the latest nutrition knowledge and break through research with veterinary healthcare professionals worldwide to help pets live longer and better lives.
Jan S. Suchodolski graduated with a veterinary degree from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria. After working for several years in a small animal specialty clinic he returned to academia and 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 Professor and Associate Director of the GI Lab. He has published more than 340 peer-review manuscripts in the field of veterinary gastroenterology and microbiome.
Linda Toresson graduated from the Swedish University of Agricultural Science in 1995. Since 1996, she has worked at Evidensia Specialist Animal Hospital, Helsingborg, Sweden, focusing on small animal gastroenterology. In 2001, she became a Swedish Specialist in diseases of dogs and cats and in 2007 a Swedish Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine. Linda served as the Medical Director at Evidensia Specialist Animal Hospital, Helsingborg during 2007-2013, a position she left to become an external PhD-student in gastroenterology at Helsinki University. In 2018, she presented her thesis on oral cobalamin supplementation in dogs with chronic enteropathies and was awarded a PhD with distinction. Linda’s case load consists exclusively of dogs and cats with gastrointestinal diseases. She is combining clinical practice at the Evidensia Specialist Animal Hospital in Helsingborg with GI research, and is still affiliated with Helsinki University as an external researcher. For more than a decade, she has collaborated in various projects with professors Joerg Steiner and Jan Suchodolski at the Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. Her main research interest is the intestinal microbiome , including modulation of the microbiome beyond antibiotics She currently serves as the president of the European Society of Comparative gastroenterology.
Dr. Gail Czarnecki-Maulden is a Senior Principal Nutritionist at Nestle Purina Purina and an Adjunct Professor of Veterinary Clinical Medicine at the University of Illinois. She received her BS from Cornell University and her MS and PhD in Animal Nutrition from the University of Illinois. Before joining Nestle Purina, Gail was an Associate Professor of companion animal nutrition at the University of Illinois. Gail is a past member of the National Academy of Science Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources and the AAFCO dog and cat nutrient profiles subcommittee (which sets nutrient standards for dog and cat foods in the US). She has served as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board for the International Probiotics Association, the University of Illinois Division of Nutritional Sciences External Advisory Board, and the NAS/NRC Committee on Evaluating the Safety of Dietary Supplements for Horses, Dogs and Cats. Gail has published over 60 articles and a(BST)racts in the area of pet nutrition. Her research focuses on probiotics, prebiotics, and the effect of nutrition on gastrointestinal health and microbiome. Gail’s love of science and animals extends to her personal life where she is actively involved in science-based positive reinforcement dog training. She is a certified dog trainer (KPA CTP, Certified Fear Free Professional, CTDI, licensed Family Paws Parent Educator), the Director of Training for the Greater St Louis Training Club and is an advisory member of the Havanese Rescue Board of Directors.
Jörg M. Steiner, med.vet., Dr.med.vet., PhD, DACVIM-SAIM, DECVIM-CA, AGAF University Distinguished Professor, Small Animal Internal Medicine Dr. Mark Morris Chair in Small Animal Gastroenterology and Nutrition Director, Gastrointestinal Laboratory
Jörg Steiner received his veterinary degree from the Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, Germany in 1992. He completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the University of Pennsylvania in 1993 and a residency in small animal internal medicine at Purdue University in 1996. He received his Dr.med.vet. degree from the Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, Germany in 1995 in recognition of research on feline trypsin and feline trypsin-like immunoreactivity. In 1996 he achieved board certification with both the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) and the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. In 2000 Dr. Steiner received a PhD from Texas A&M University for his work on canine digestive lipases and their use for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal disorders in the dog. In 2012 he was recognized as a Fellow by the American Gastroenterology Association. He currently serves as Professor with the Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery and the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology at Texas A&M University. In 2016 Dr. Steiner was named the Dr. Mark Morris Chair in Small Animal Gastroenterology and Nutrition. He also serves as the Director of the Gastrointestinal Laboratory at Texas A&M University and is involved in a wide variety of research in small animal and comparative gastroenterology. He has authored or co-authored more than 350 peer-reviewed articles, 100 book chapters, and 470 research a(BST)racts. He has been invited to present his work at many national and international conferences and provides continuing education lectures for veterinarians across the globe. He has also served several professional organizations in various roles and currently serves as the president of Small Animal Internal Medicine of ACVIM. In 2018 Dr. Steiner received the AVMA Career Achievement Award in Canine Research. He was selected as a University Distinguished Professor at Texas A&M Univeristy in 2019.
Dr. Lappin graduated from Oklahoma State University and then completed an internship, internal medicine residency, and PhD program in Parasitology at the University of Georgia. Dr. Lappin is the Kenneth W. Smith Professor in Small Animal Clinical Veterinary Medicine at Colorado State University, is the director of the “Center for Companion Animal Studies” and he helps direct the shelter medicine program. He is the chair of the WSAVA One Health Committee. The Center is housed in the Translational Medicine Institute at CSU. His principal areas of interest are prevention of infectious diseases, the upper respiratory disease complex, infectious causes of fever, infectious causes of diarrhea, zoonoses, and nutritional management of internal medicine problems, including the use of probiotics. His research group has published over 300 primary papers or book chapters concerning small animal infectious diseases. Awards include the Norden Distinguished Teaching Award, NAVC Small Animal Speaker of the Year, the European Society of Feline Medicine International Award for Outstanding Contribution to Feline Medicine, the Winn Feline Research Award, the ACVIM Robert W. Kirk Award for Professional Excellence, the WSAVA Scientific Achievement Award, and the AVMA Clinical Research Award.
Stefan Unterer is the head of the gastroenterology service at the Clinic of Small Animal Internal Medicine of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich/Germany. He completed his internship and residency in small animal internal medicine at the University of Zürich/Switzerland and University of Georgia/USA. Stefan Unterer became board-certified by the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 2003. After one year in private practice, he returned to academia and became a faculty member at the University of Munich/Germany. He finished his habilitation thesis in 2016. Stefan Unterer will start his new position as Professor/Chair of Small Animal Internal Medicine and Director of the Small Animal Internal Medicine Clinic at the Vetsuisse Faculty Zurich/Switzerland in February 1st 2022. His clinical research projects include the intestinal microbiome, acute hemorrhagic diarrhea in dogs, intestinal barrier function and longterm consequences of acute enteritis.
Dr. Stan Marks graduated from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the University of Missouri, Columbia. He completed a small animal internal medicine residency program at the University of Florida and an oncology residency program at the University of California, Davis. Dr. Marks received his PhD degree in Nutrition from the University of California, Davis, where he is currently a Professor in the Department of Medicine and Epidemiology. Dr. Marks is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) in the subspecialties of internal medicine and oncology, and a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition (ACVN). He is the President of the Comparative Gastroenterology Society and the Director of the Companion Animal Gastrointestinal Laboratory at UC Davis that focuses on furthering our understanding and knowledge of canine and feline infectious enteropathies. In addition, Dr. Marks has research interests in deglutology and the diagnosis and management of esophageal disorders in dogs. Dr. Marks has received numerous faculty teaching awards over the years and was honored to be selected the Speaker of the Year at the 2003 NAVC Conference and the 2012 Canadian Veterinary Medical Association Convention. He has published over 120 manuscripts in the areas of canine and feline gastroenterology, and has contributed chapters to a number of textbooks.
Dr. Spears earned a Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Companion Animal Nutrition from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She joined Nestlé Purina in 2005 as a Research Scientist. Julie currently is a Senior Principal Scientist in the Nestlé Purina PetCare Research Unit and serves as an affiliate faculty member at the University of Alaska Fairbanks College of Natural Science and Mathematics and Department of Veterinary Medicine. She has been researching the impact nutritional intervention on the oral and gastrointestinal microbiome of dogs and cats for more than twenty years. Julie has numerous publications in the field of companion animal nutrition and digestive health. Her current research interests include oral health, gastrointestinal and immune health, renal health, and early development.
Karin Allenspach received her veterinary degree from the University of Zurich. She did an internship in small animal emergency medicine and critical care at Tufts University and a residency in small animal internal medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and is a diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. She was awarded a PhD in veterinary immunology from the University of Bern, Switzerland for her work on canine chronic enteropathies. She is currently employed as Professor in Internal Medicine and Translational Health at Iowa State University, Ames, USA and is a PI of the SMART Translational medicine Lab at ISU, which focuses on the development and culture of adult stem stem-cell-derived organoids from various species. Her latest efforts have resulted in the founding of a start-up company (3D Health Solutions, Inc.) with the goal of commercializing assays for drug screening based on organoid methods.
Dr. Parker is currently a Professor–Clinical at The Ohio State University. She received her DVM from Tufts University, followed by a small animal internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. She then completed a small animal internal medicine residency at Iowa State University and a nutrition residency at Tufts University. She is a diplomate of both the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and the American College of Veterinary Nutrition. Dr. Parker’s primary areas of interest include kidney disease, gastrointestinal disease, and vitamin D metabolism, as well as nutritional management of a variety of canine and feline diseases.
She obtained her veterinary degree in 2000 and her PhD in animal nutrition in 2005 by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Spain. She worked as a post doctoral researcher in feline nutrition at the University of California Davis, where she also completed a residency in small animal clinical nutrition at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. She is board certified in veterinary nutrition by the American College of Veterinary Nutrition (ACVN®) and by the European College of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrion (ECVCN) since 2010 and is currently the past president of ECVCN. After working as the chief of service of the veterinary teaching hospital nutrition service in Barcelona (UAB) for 6 years, she is now a consultant in clinical nutrition for Expert Pet Nutrition (www.expertpetnutrition.com) and Veterinary Information Network (VIN). She is the co-chair of the WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee and has written several articles and book chapters on the topic of companion animal nutrition.
