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MENA Microbiome
From Biomarkers Discovery
to Microbiota-based Therapeutics

Date: 17th and 18th October 2026
Venue: Andaz Hotel – Sahara Ballroom

Overview /Agenda

Agenda

All Sessions Day 1:
17 October 2026 Day 2:
18 October 2026
Time Session Title/Topic Session-Specific Learning Objectives
7:00-8:00 am Registration/Check-in
8:00-8:30 am Welcoming and opening remarks
Sidra Medicine event chairs
Session I: Microbiome in women’s health
Moderated by: Dr. Maha Al Asmakh, QU & Dr. Gregory Tasian, CHOP
8:30-9:00 am
30 minutes		 “Microbial Genomics from Bench to Bedside: Lessons from Maternal-Child Cohorts”

Dr. Souhaila Al Khodor
  • Describe the role of the microbiome in the first 1000 days and the role of the maternal microbiome in shaping infant microbiome development.
  • Discuss the role of the breast milk microbiome in infant’s health
  • Understand the impact of pregnancy complications on early-life immune- microbiome interactions.
9:00-9:45 am
45 minutes		 Keynote talk

“Human Microbiome Diversity and AI Health Prediction”

Dr. Robin Knight
  • Define key computational terms in microbiome analysis.
  • Identify the role of AI in advancing microbiome data analysis.
  • Critique the current limitations and future potential of AI in microbial genetics
9:45-10:15 am Coffee break & exhibition visit
10:15-10:45 am
30 minutes		 “Precision Nutrition implementation in obstetrics: how maternal diet can reduce the risk of pregnancy complications by modulating placenta gene expression and gut microbiome”

Dr. Annalisa Terranegra
  • Discuss the role of nutrition in gestational diabetes and pre-term birth
  • Understand the impact of maternal nutrition on gut microbiome and DNA methylation
  • Define the nutrients that affect microbiome composition and DNA methylation levels in pregnancy complications
10:45-11:30 am Abstracts presentation
Facilitators: Dr. Matteo Avella and Dr. Abbirami Sathappan
11:30-12:00 pm
30 minutes		 “Role of the microbiome in women’s health during the reproductive age”

Dr. Jia Xu
  • Describe how fluctuating female hormones influence the microbiome
  • Explain the characteristics of a healthy microbiome during reproductive age
  • Analyze the relationship between microbiome dysbiosis and common reproductive health conditions
12:00-1:30 pm
  • Lunch
  • Poster viewing
Session II: Innovative host-microbiome therapeutic strategies
Moderated by: Dr. Marco Cardinale, Aspire & Dr. Adviti Naik, CMU
1:30–2:00 pm
30 minutes		 “Pediatric Donor FMT: Evidence, Infrastructure, and Innovation from a Dedicated Donor Stool Bank”

Dr. Nikhil Pai
  • Discuss current evidence on safety, efficacy, and mechanisms of FMT in children.
  • Explain the clinical, regulatory, and operational requirements for establishing a pediatric donor FMT stool bank.
  • Outline best practices and prevailing gaps in pediatric FMT research.
2:00-2:30 pm
30 minutes		 “Fecal Microbiota Transplantation and novel microbial therapeutics: where are we now?”

Dr. Majdi Osman
  • Recall the established clinical indications for FMT
  • Describe the FMT procedure
  • Summarize the current trials using FMT
2:30-3:00 pm
30 minutes		 “Microbiome Restoration Strategies in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Preclinical Validation of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation and Targeted Probiotics in a Murine Model”

Dr. Nahla Mansour
  • List the major microbial changes observed in diabetic patients
  • Describe the steps used for FMT in mice with diabetes
  • Define the limitations of the proposed model
3:00-3:30 pm
30 minutes		 “Evidence of the benefits of Ligilactobacillus salivarius PS11610 supplementation in reproductive health and Infertility”

Dr. Esther Jimenez
  • Understand female and male urogenital tract microbiota
  • Define the benefits of using Ligilactobacillus salivarius PS11610
  • Assess the safety considerations for the use of PS11610 in reproductive-aged subjects
3:30-4:00 pm Coffee break & exhibition visit
4:00-4:30 pm
30 minutes		 “The Future of Phage Therapy: Tackling Regional Antimicrobial Resistance in MENA”

Dr. Ayman El Shibiny
  • Define bacteriophages and phage therapy.
  • Describe the modes of phage-bacterial interaction.
  • Critique the current limitations for phage therapy.
4:30-5:00 pm
30 minutes		 “The Critical Role of Nutrition and the Gut Microbiome in Pediatric Transplant Success”

Dr. Mamoun Elawad
  • The role of gut microbiome in organ failure before transplant
  • Show the evidence of gut microbiome effect in improving the outcome of organs transplant
  • Address the role of gut microbiome and nutrition in different organs transplant
5:00-5:30 pm Q & A

Closing Remarks for Day

Time Session Title/Topic Session-Specific Learning Objectives
7:00-8:00 am Registration/Check-in
8:00-8:30 am Opening Ceremony

  • Mr. Mohammed Khalid Al Mana, Acting Chief Executive Officer
  • Professor Ibrahim Janahi, Chief Medical Officer
  • Professor Khalid Fakhro, Chief Research Officer
8:30-9:15 am
45 minutes		 Panel Discussion:

“Microbiome and Metagenomics: how to move from research to clinical implementation”

Dr. Majdi Osman 
Dr. Nikhil Pai
Dr. Mamoun Elawad
Dr. Sara Abdullah

Moderated by Professor Hilal Lashuel
  • Analyze the principles of microbiome and metagenomic research and differentiate their applications in disease diagnosis, prognosis, and personalized medicine by the end of the session.
  • Evaluate the scientific, technical, and regulatory challenges associated with translating microbiome discoveries into clinical practice and identify at least three key considerations for successful implementation.
  • Develop an evidence-based approach for integrating microbiome and metagenomic data into clinical decision-making by applying current best practices and case-based examples discussed during the session.
9:15-10:00 am
45 minutes		 Keynote talk

“From Microbes to Medicine: Revolutionizing Women’s Health Through Vaginal Microbiome Innovation”

Dr. Jacques Ravel
  • Explain the role of the vaginal microbiome in women’s health and the ecological principles that contribute to vaginal microbiome stability and resilience.
  • Analyze how microbial community composition, strain-level characteristics, and ecological factors can influence bacterial vaginosis treatment outcomes and restoration of an optimal vaginal microbiota.
  • Evaluate the opportunities and challenges associated with using live biotherapeutic products to restore and maintain Lactobacillus-dominated vaginal microbial communities.
10:00-10:30 am Coffee break & exhibition visit
Session III: Cutting-edge gut-organ axis discoveries
Moderated by: Dr. Ali Ait Hssain, HMC & Dr. Georges Nemer, HBKU
10:30 -11:00 am
30 minutes		 “Current Perspectives on Gut–brain axis and microbiome-associated mechanisms in Neurodegenerative Disorders”

Dr. SĂĽleyman Yildirim
  • Describe the bidirectional communication pathways governing the gut-brain
  • Identify key microbes associated with the cognitive decline spectrum in neurodegenerative disorders
  • Examine how specific microbial metabolites affect brain function and cognitive decline
11:00-11:30 am
30 minutes		 “Role of the Microbiome in Kidney Stones disease”

Dr. Gregory E. Tasian
  • Define the microbiome in kidney physiology.
  • Outline microbiome role in kidney stones.
  • Address therapeutic approaches
11:30-12:00 pm Abstracts presentation
Facilitators: Dr. Bernice Lo and Dr. Essam Abdelalim
12:00-1:30 pm
  • Lunch
  • Poster viewing
1:30–2:00 pm
30 minutes		 “Gut microbiome and virome in Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in children”

Dr. Ibrahim Shatat
  • Define the microbiome structure in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome patients
  • Outline microbial networking in Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome
  • Identify the major microbial changes during disease relapse and remission
2:00-2:30 pm
30 minutes		 “From Dysbiosis to Dysphagia: The Role of the Microbiome in Pediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis”

Dr. Hatim Abdelrhman
  • Describe the basic pathophysiology of Esinophilic Esophagitis in children
  • Summarize the current evidence linking microbiome alteration to Pediatric EoE
  • Discuss the management plan for pediatric EoE
  • Recognize the future potential therapeutic implications including diet-based and microbiome targeted strategies
Session IV: Rapid Metagenomics, antimicrobial resistance and the future of Sepsis
Moderated by: Dr. Zahid Padamsay, WCMC-Qatar & Dr. Umberto Demoner Ramos, UDST
2:30-3:00 pm
30 minutes		 “From Culture to Metagenomics: A Clinician’s View from the PICU Bedside”

Dr. Manu Sundaram
  • Recognise the diagnostic limitations that drive sepsis mortality
  • Evaluate the clinical evidence for metagenomic next-generation sequencing in pediatrics sepsis
  • Assess the real-world barriers to mNGS implementation in a PICU sepsis program
3:00-3:30 pm
30 minutes		 “The use of metagenomics to predict neonatal sepsis”

Dr. Nader El Dewik
  • Evaluate the challenges associated with neonatal sepsis diagnosis and treatment
  • Define the benefit of using metagenomics for sepsis prediction
  • Evaluate the clinical validity and utility of current NGS-based sepsis prediction models
3:30-4:00 pm Coffee break & exhibition visit
4:00-4:30 pm
30 minutes		 “Unleashing the Power of Multi-omics in sepsis prediction and prevention”

Dr. Ali Ait Hssain
  • Evaluate the challenges associated with sepsis in critically ill ICU patients
  • Describe how serial multi-site sample collection can help predict sepsis using metagenomics
  • Characterize the microbiome profiles in sepsis patients using metagenomics
4:30 -5:00 pm
30 minutes		 “Clinical Implementation of Microbial Metagenomics”

Dr. Hamsa T. Tayeb
  • Evaluate the potential of using microbial sequencing in the clinical diagnostics
  • Describe the current progress for clinical metagenomics applications in the Saudi population
  • Discuss the challenge of using metagenomics for infection
5:00-5:30 pm
30 minutes		 “From ancient gut to modern clinic: metagenomic surveillance of mobile antimicrobial resistance across human and environmental microbiomes”

Dr. Manuel Corpas
  • Explain how metagenomic sequencing distinguishes intrinsic from mobile antimicrobial resistance and why mobile resistance is clinically important.
  • Describe how a harmonized metagenomic pipeline quantifies antimicrobial resistance across ancient and modern human and environmental microbiomes.
  • Evaluate how gut, oral, and environmental sampling affect detected resistance threats and MENA surveillance programes.
5:30-6:00 pm Q & A
6:00 pm Closing and Awards