International Milk Genomics Symposium Deemed Successful

The 2026 IMGC Symposium in Portland was such an inspiring gathering!

Co-hosted by Oregon State University and Oregon Health & Science University, this year’s International Milk Genomics Symposium brought our international community together to explore the extraordinary biology of milk and its potential to improve human health.

The oral presentations were exceptional, sparking thoughtful questions and conversations that continued well beyond each session. Our students impressed us with the quality of their research, fresh perspectives, and enthusiasm. The poster presentations created wonderful opportunities to exchange ideas and build connections. And the spectacular event space at OHSU provided a memorable setting for it all.

Science that made us say “Wow!”

Across the program, discoveries connected the fundamental biology of milk with exciting possibilities for translation. A few highlights:

• Milk extracellular vesicles
  Research on these tiny carriers of biological messages is opening new directions in understanding infant brain and gut development.
• The potential of milk peptides
  Presentations highlighted milk’s rich diversity of peptides and opportunities to investigate their biological functions and potential health applications.
• The importance of the food matrix
  Fermentation research reminded us that the food carrying a microbe can shape its delivery and effects.
• Timing and the infant gut microbiome
  Research on complementary feeding highlighted how the timing of dietary changes may influence microbial development and function.
• New possibilities for dairy co-products
  Advanced analytical tools are helping identify valuable bioactive components and opportunities for nutritional innovation.
• Challenging assumptions about microbes in milk
  Genomic analyses prompted us to distinguish the detection of microbes from evidence of a specialized microbial ecosystem.

Presentations also underscored the NICU as a critical setting for milk research, where discoveries about milk bioactives, gut health, and brain development may help improve care for our most vulnerable infants.

All oral presentation recordings are now available.
Revisit a favorite talk or catch a presentation you missed. If you haven’t yet registered, no problem. You can register on the symposium website.

Recordings of all oral presentations are now available in the event portal until March 14, 2027.

The reports can be accessed here.

Our community approaches milk science from many disciplines, united by a shared purpose: advancing knowledge and translating discoveries to improve health.

Thank you to every speaker, student, poster presenter, moderator, and participant for contributing to that mission. We also recognize the milk donors, infants, and families whose participation makes so much of this research possible.

Special thanks to David Dallas, Oregon State University, for chairing the local organizing committee; Sarah Andres and Brian Scottoline, OHSU, for welcoming us to their beautiful campus and conference venue; and Candace Russo, our local symposium coordinator, for her extraordinary work behind the scenes and throughout the event. Special thanks to Orla Cagney and Kimberly Yarris with California Dairy Research Foundation for their support from start to finish.

We are deeply grateful to our sponsors, whose support makes this scientific exchange possible:

Consortium sponsors: Arla Foods Ingredients, ByHeart, California Dairy Research Foundation, and National Dairy Council

Lead Sponsor: Kabrita

Partnering Sponsor: Hilmar

Contributing Sponsors: Prolacta, Raw Milk Institute, and Oregon State University