Mucins in health and disease
15-18 June 2026, Ghent, Belgium
Supported by VIB Training & Conferences
Mucins in health and disease
Mucins in health and disease
Supported by VIB Training & Conferences
Add to calendarWe are thrilled to announce that the 18th International Mucins in Health and Disease Conference will be held from 15–18 June 2026 in the city of Ghent, Belgium. This premier gathering of the global mucin research community highlights the importance and truly interdisciplinary nature of mucin science, bridging disciplines from glycoscience and biophysics to evolutionary biology and clinical medicine.
The scientific program spans the breadth of mucin biology, including mucin research past and present, mucin biophysics, mucin evolution, mucin biosynthesis and processing, and innovative models in mucin research. In addition, sessions will cover O-glycosylation of mucins, mucin–microbe interactions, mucins in infection, inflammation and cancer. Attendees can look forward to inspiring talks by leading experts, dynamic discussions, and ample opportunities for networking with colleagues from around the world.
Ghent is a beautiful and historic Belgian city with a rich cultural heritage, providing an ideal backdrop for international collaboration. The event is co-organized by VIB-Ghent, Utrecht University, University of Colorado Anschutz, and the Mucin Biology Groups at the University of Gothenburg, reflecting a global partnership.
We welcome established investigators, early-career researchers, and trainees alike to this inclusive forum to share their discoveries, forge new collaborations, and advance our understanding of these fascinating molecules.
Abstracts
The abstract submission is now closed. The abstract deadline for poster and/or oral presentation was 19 March 2026. The final poster submission deadline was 26 March 2026.
Host city Ghent
Quirky Ghent offers a fascinating cultural cocktail brimming with trendy, modern urban life. Ghent is a city where people enjoy life: a chilled-out place where anything goes and a city that feels human. Its friendly, welcoming people love the good life.
Hotel Block Booking
A block of rooms has been reserved for attendees at Monasterium Poortackere Hotel and Hotel de Flandre, both offering a discounted rate. You can find all the details and booking instructions under the Practical > Hotel tab further down this page. We recommend booking early before the deadline of 16th of January, to ensure availability.
Confirmed speakers
Benoit Chassaing
Benoit Chassaing
Microbiome/Host Interactions, Institut Pasteur, U1306 INSERM, Université Paris Cité, FR
Olivia Coleman
Olivia Coleman
Chair of Nutrition and Immunology, School of Life Sciences, Technische Universität München, DE
Michael J. Grey
Michael J. Grey
Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, US
Maude Liegeois
Maude Liegeois
Laboratory of Immunophysiology, GIGA Institute, University of Liège, BE
Mala Mahendroo
Mala Mahendroo
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, US
Marcus Mall
Marcus Mall
Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, DE
Eric Martens
Eric Martens
University of Michigan Medical School, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, US
Janna Nawroth
Janna Nawroth
Helmholtz Pioneer Campus (Helmholtz Munich) and Technical University Munich (TUM), DE
Benjamin Schumann
Benjamin Schumann
Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, TUD Dresden University of Technology, DE
Max Seibold
Max Seibold
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, US; National Jewish Health, US
Jeff SoRelle
Jeff SoRelle
Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, US
Sarah Svenningsen
Sarah Svenningsen
Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health & Imaging Research Centre, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, CA
Sjoerd van der Post
Sjoerd van der Post
Department of Medical Biochemistry & Cell Biology, University of Gothenburg, SE
Program
Day 0 - Sunday, 14 June, 2026
18:00
Informal gathering
Day 1 - Monday, 15 June, 2026
08:20
08:50
Registration
08:50
09:00
Welcome word
09:00
10:00
Keynote speaker
The world according to slime
Susanne Wedlich
Susanne Wedlich, DE
10:00
10:40
Coffee break
10:40
12:10
Session 1: Mucin Glycosylation & Chemistry
10:40
11:10
Clearing the Path: The role of mucus proteolysis in enteric pathogen colonization
Sjoerd van der Post
Department of Medical Biochemistry & Cell Biology, University of Gothenburg, SE
11:10
11:40
Understanding Mucin O-glycan biosynthesis through Chemical Precision Tools
Benjamin Schumann
Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, TUD Dresden University of Technology, DE
11:40
11:55
Single-molecule FRET Analysis of Mucin PTS Length-Span and Dynamics
Rotem Azulay
Weizmann Institute of Science, IL
Selected from abstracts
11:55
12:10
Tunable, scalable, synthetic mucins for engineering mucus and the glycocalyx
Jessica Kramer
University of Utah, US
Selected from abstracts
12:10
13:15
Lunch
13:15
14:45
Session 2: Microbiome-Mucin Interactions
13:15
13:45
Synergistic degradation of secreted mucins by human gut bacteria worsens colitis
Eric Martens
University of Michigan Medical School, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, US
13:45
14:15
Gut microbial modulation of colonic mucus function
Björn Schröder
Dep. of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, SE
14:15
14:30
Going beyond mucus factories: a new role for goblet cells
Maria Naama
Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, safed, IL
Selected from abstracts
14:30
14:45
Mucus secretion is a novel form of viral egress
Valerie Cortez
University of California, Santa Cruz, US
Selected from abstracts
14:45
15:30
Coffee break
15:30
17:00
Session 3: Mucin Engineering: Tool Development & Technologies
15:30
16:00
From AI to microrheology: New approaches to model and investigate respiratory disease
Janna Nawroth
Helmholtz Pioneer Campus (Helmholtz Munich) and Technical University Munich (TUM), DE
16:00
16:30
Harnessing cell-free glycoprotein expression for the biosynthesis of authentically glycosylated human mucins
Matthew DeLisa
William L. Lewis Professor of Engineering, Cornell University, US
16:30
16:45
Quantifying Glycocalyx Crowding Forces from Molecular Exclusion Effects
Matthew Paszek
UC Davis, US
Selected from abstracts
16:45
17:00
Sensing the Gut in Action: An Ingestible Platform for Spatiotemporal Microbiome Activity Mapping toward Digital Gut Twins
Arjen Tibbe
IMEC, NL
Selected from abstracts
17:00
19:00
Poster session & reception
19:00
21:30
Walking dinner
Zebrastraat, Ghent.
Included in the registration ticket
Day 2 - Tuesday, 16 June, 2026
09:00
10:00
Keynote speaker
Crystal forming proteins in mucus
Bart Lambrecht
VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, BE
10:00
10:40
Coffee break
10:40
12:10
Session 4: Mucins & Mucus in Lung Disease
10:40
11:10
Identifying novel targets for mucus obstruction using a high-throughput arrayed CRISPR/Cas9 screen
Luke Bonser
AstraZeneca UK Ltd, GB
11:10
11:40
Airway mucus plugs as marker of the Type 2 niche in asthma
Maude Liegeois
Laboratory of Immunophysiology, GIGA Institute, University of Liège, BE
11:40
11:55
Distinct roles of C-terminal dimerization and N-terminal polymerization in Muc5ac-mediated airway mucus dysfunction
Gilda Opoku
University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, US
Selected from abstracts
11:55
12:10
A role for CFTR in goblet cell biology
Brendan Dolan
Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Gothenburg, SE
Selected from abstracts
12:10
13:15
Lunch
13:15
14:45
Session 5: Mucins in Cancer and Tumour Biology
13:15
13:45
Metaplasia and mucins in colorectal cancer
Sabine Tejpar
Molecular Digestive Oncology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, BE
13:45
14:15
Mucus under pressure: ER stress and barrier dysfunction in CRC
Olivia Coleman
Chair of Nutrition and Immunology, School of Life Sciences, Technische Universität München, DE
14:15
14:30
Molecular Mechanism of Mucin-Mediated Chemoresistance in Colorectal Cancer
Ramesh Pothuraju
Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, IN; University of Nebraska Medical Centre, US
Selected from abstracts
14:30
14:45
Discovery of a MUC4EGF domain-targeting peptide that inhibits the MUC4-ErbB2 complex and resensitizes pancreatic cancer cells to ErbB2 targeted therapies
Isabelle Van Seuningen
CRCLille Laboratory (U1366 Inserm)/ONCOLille Institute, FR
Selected from abstracts
16:00
17:00
Boat tour of Ghent
Meeting point: Jetty, at The Green Boathouse, Korenlei 4a, 9000 Ghent
Day 3 - Wednesday, 17 June, 2026
09:00
10:00
Keynote speaker
Prime Slime Time: The Slippery Science Behind a Healthy Gut
Malin Johansson
University of Gothenburg, SE
10:00
10:40
Coffee break
10:40
12:10
Session 6: Mucosal Immunology of Mucins & Goblet Cells
10:40
11:10
Goblet Cells as Guides of Intestinal Immunity
Rodney Newberry
Washington University in Saint Louis, School of Medicine, US
11:10
11:40
Impact of pharmacological restoration of CFTR function on airway mucus properties in cystic fibrosis
Marcus Mall
Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, DE
11:40
11:55
Immunological consequences of goblet cell loss: the gut-kidney axis
Sophie Vanhercke
VIB-UGent Inflammation Research Center, BE; Ghent University Faculty of Medicine and health sciences, BE
Selected from abstracts
11:55
12:10
Identification of non canonical goblet cells by scRNAseq is confounded by isolation of doublets
Phaedra Guilbert
Department of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, Ghent University, BE; BE; VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, BE
Selected from abstracts
12:10
13:15
Lunch
13:15
14:45
Session 7: Mucins in Pregnancy & Early Life
13:15
13:45
Barriers and birth: functional development of mucus defensive systems in pregnancy and early life
George Birchenough
University of Gothenburg, SE
13:45
14:15
Cervical goblet cells in pregnancy: where do they come from and why are they important?
Mala Mahendroo
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, US
14:15
14:30
Developmental remodeling of the colonic mucus barrier during weaning coordinates immune homeostasis.
Victor Pettersson
Department of Physiology, University of Gothenburg, SE
Selected from abstracts
14:30
14:45
Glycans drive composition and function of infant gut synthetic microbial communities
Maryse Berkhout
Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, NL
Selected from abstracts
14:45
15:30
Coffee break
15:30
17:00
Session 8: Mucin Genetics
15:30
16:00
The Genetic Regulatory Architecture of Human Airway Mucins
Max Seibold
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, US; National Jewish Health, US
16:00
16:30
Expansion of MUC1 repeats shapes human mucus barrier evolution
Petar Pajic
Yale University, US
16:30
16:45
Pioneering biomarker discovery through exploration of mucin glycoproteins
Stacy Malaker
Yale University, US
Selected from abstracts
16:45
17:00
Terminal fucosylation influences susceptibility to pneumococcal pneumonia
Cengiz Goekeri
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Infectious Diseases, Respiratory Medicine and Critical Care, Berlin, DE
Selected from abstracts
17:00
18:30
Poster session & reception
19:00
21:00
Dinner
Garden, Hotel Monasterium, Ghent
21:00
23:00
Party
Chapel, Hotel Monasterium, Ghent
Day 4 - Thursday, 18 June, 2026
09:00
10:30
Session 9: Mucin Synthesis & Folding
09:00
09:30
Taking the stress out of mucus production – the role of epithelial ER stress sensors
Michael J. Grey
Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, US
09:30
10:00
Making More Mucus with Mannose
Jeff SoRelle
Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, US
10:00
10:15
Novel regulators of secretory apparatus structure and mucin secretion
Kelly Ten Hagen
National Institutes of Health, US
Selected from abstracts
10:15
10:30
Declining Unfolded Protein Response with Aging Drives Mucin Dysregulation in the Colon
Thishan Illankoon
Mater Research Institute , AU; Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland, AU
Selected from abstracts
10:30
11:10
Coffee break
11:10
12:40
Session 10: Environmental Impact on Mucins
11:10
11:40
Host-Microbiome Interactions in Health and Diseases - Time for Mucosal Microbiology
Benoit Chassaing
Microbiome/Host Interactions, Institut Pasteur, U1306 INSERM, Université Paris Cité, FR
11:40
12:10
Reduced dietary fiber fuels gut bacterial mucin degradation in healthy humans
Mahesh Desai
Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, LU
12:10
12:25
The food exposome impacts mucus production: IL-33-driven alterations of MUC2 induced by zinc deficiency in intestinal goblet cells
Christoph Schüßler
Department of Food Chemistry, Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, DE
Selected from abstracts
12:25
12:40
Oxidation Increases Mucus Viscoelasticity Without Inducing Mucin Crosslinking
Daniel Lauster
Freie Universität Berlin, DE
Selected from abstracts
12:40
13:00
Closing words
Organizing committee
Helena Aegerter
VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, BE
George Birchenough
University of Gothenburg, SE
Chris Evans
University of Colorado, US
Sophie Janssens
VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, BE
Malin Johansson
University of Gothenburg, SE
Bart Lambrecht
VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, BE
Thaher Pelayesed
University of Gothenburg, SE
Karin Strijbis
Utrecht University, NL
Lars Vereecke
VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Rheumatology, Ghent University, BE
Abstracts
The full list of abstracts will be available on 01-06-2026 until 18-09-2026
This list will only be available for registered attendees of the event.
This list will only be available for registered attendees of the event.
Attendees
The full list of attendees will be available on 01-06-2026 until 18-09-2026
This list will only be available for registered attendees of the event.
This list will only be available for registered attendees of the event.
Sponsors
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