NPI Hosts the 3rd Thailand Metabolomics Association International Conference

The National Phenome Institute, Khon Kaen University, together with the Thailand Metabolomics Association (TMA) and the Hub of Talents in Microbiome Medicine and Microbial Technology for One Health, organized the international conference The 3rd Thailand Metabolomics Association (TMA) Conference under the theme "Metabolome–Microbiome in Health and Diseases for One Health" from 10 to 12 November 2025 at the Administration Building, KKU Science Park, Khon Kaen University.

The conference reflected the role of the National Phenome Institute, Khon Kaen University, as a leader in frontier metabolome–microbiome research and as Thailand's central infrastructure for phenomics, metabolomics and microbiome science, connecting national and international research networks to advance precision medicine, the One Health approach and a sustainable bioeconomy.

Day 1: Workshops – Opening Ceremony – Plenary Talks by World-Class Scientists

The morning of the first day featured a Metabolomics Workshop by SiCORE-MSB and a Microbiome Workshop by the National Phenome Institute, Khon Kaen University, giving researchers and students hands-on experience with in-depth metabolomics and microbiome data analysis platforms, guided directly by experts.

At the opening ceremony, Prof. Dr. Thidarut Boonmars, D.V.M., Vice President for Enterprise and Sustainable Society, Khon Kaen University, delivered a welcome address highlighting the role of the National Phenome Institute as "Thailand's central infrastructure hub for phenomics, metabolomics and microbiome science" and thanking academic networks and international partners. Prof. Yongyut Sirivatanauksorn, M.D., then formally opened the conference.

The opening was followed by plenary talks from world-leading scientists:

Prof. Jeremy Nicholson (Imperial College London, United Kingdom)

Asst. Prof. Jianhong Ching (Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore)

Assoc. Prof. Hiroshi Tsugawa (Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Japan)

Assoc. Prof. Jia Li (Imperial College London, United Kingdom)

Prof. Zhigang Liu (School of Medicine, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University, China)

Prof. Huiru Tang (Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, China)

The talks ranged from molecular phenomics, multi-omics and gut–immune crosstalk to isomer-resolved metabolomics, linking knowledge to precision medicine and One Health in concrete terms.

Day 2: Metabolome–Microbiome in Food, Agriculture, the Environment and the Clinic

The second day opened with plenary talks by

Prof. Ron M.A. Heeren on Metabolomics & Spatial Biology

Dr. Anne K. Bendt on Bridging the Gap: from Research-Grade Methods to Routine Clinical Applications

reflecting the direction of translating frontier research into real-world use in health care services.

The conference was divided into two main session rooms:

Metabolomics Room Presentations on applications of metabolomics in natural products, food and nutrition, the development of economic crop varieties, value creation in agriculture, and clinical metabolomics for biomarker discovery and the development of precision medicine.

Microbiome Room Focused on the role of the microbiome in agriculture, soil, water, the environment and food safety, its applications in food and medicine, and its extension into biotechnology and modern bioscience.

Poster presentations by students and researchers from across the country also showcased the capacity of Thailand's research community to use metabolomics and the microbiome to address health, food, agricultural and environmental challenges comprehensively.

Day 3: Biotechnology – Clinical Microbiome and Host Handover Ceremony

The final day opened with a plenary talk by Assoc. Prof. Sunjae Lee (Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology: GIST, Republic of Korea), broadening perspectives on data-driven life sciences in an international context.

The conference was divided into two session rooms:

Metabolomics: Biotechnology Focused on the use of metabolomics in the bio-industry, the design of innovative products and value creation along industrial supply chains.

Microbiome: Clinical Focused on clinical applications of the microbiome, patient care and the development of medical innovations grounded in a deep understanding of the human microbial ecosystem.

The conference closed with the Best Poster Award ceremony and the handover of the host flag for the next Thailand Metabolomics Association Conference to Kasetsart University, reflecting the continuation of the national collaborative network in metabolomics and microbiome research.

The 3rd Thailand Metabolomics Association Conference clearly demonstrated that the National Phenome Institute, Khon Kaen University, serves as Thailand's central infrastructure hub and a leader in frontier research in phenomics, metabolomics and microbiome science, supporting research and innovation from the molecular level to the health system, and providing a key platform that connects researchers, physicians, data scientists, industry and international partners.

The National Phenome Institute, Khon Kaen University, is ready to continue developing knowledge, technology and personnel in metabolome and microbiome science to support precision medicine, smart health systems, the food and bio-based agriculture industries, and Thailand's One Health and bioeconomy strategies in the years ahead.