Abstract

The 1st INFOGUT Annual Meeting, held from May 26–28, 2025, at the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, marked a significant milestone for COST Action CA23110. The event brought together leading experts and early-career researchers from across Europe to present the first outcomes of collaborative efforts focused on in vitro models of the gut microbiota in both humans and animals, under healthy and diseased conditions. The meeting featured over a dozen oral presentations and more than 20 posters, structured around five Working Groups (WGs). WG1 addressed the harmonization of in vitro colon models; WG2 explored extensions to other gut compartments and host interactions; WG3 focused on disease-specific models; WG4 emphasized data science, bioinformatics, and multi-omics integration; and WG5 tackled regulatory frameworks, education, and technology transfer. Topics ranged from advanced bioreactor systems and microbial dynamics to the gut-brain axis, xenobiotic interactions, and the development of standardized protocols. The meeting fostered interdisciplinary dialogue, highlighted innovative methodologies, and laid the groundwork for future collaborative research. It underscored the importance of harmonized approaches in gut microbiota modeling to enhance translational potential and regulatory acceptance of microbiome-based interventions.