The 1st InnoGI Conference – The aftermath

Diary of a Marketing Officer

After months of preparation, meetings, spreadsheets, e-mails and more checklists than I care to admit, the moment finally arrived: the 1st InnoGI Conference.

And what a way to start.

In true optimistic team spirit, several of us had joined the Delft city walk the day before. A lovely idea in theory. Slightly less lovely when paired with 30-degree sunshine and 13 kilometres of walking. Somewhere around kilometre ten I started questioning our decision-making skills, but at least we had a good time!

The Conference is finally here!

The morning started with final set-ups, presentation checks and those last-minute details that somehow always appear just before attendees arrive. Slowly, the venue began to fill. While my colleagues greeted familiar faces from across the industry, I finally met many of the people I had spent weeks e-mailing with.

Science Takes Centre Stage

Despite a tightly packed program, the day unfolded remarkably smoothly. The scientific programme focused on a topic central to InnoGI’s mission: creating more predictive and human-relevant approaches for product development. Throughout the day, speakers shared how gastro-intestinal modelling can support decision-making in both pharmaceutical and nutritional research, helping developers better understand how products perform before they reach the clinic or consumer.

One of the highlights was the panel discussion: the road to regulatory acceptance. Where different perspectives came together around the challenges and opportunities facing the field. It was exactly the kind of conversation you hope continues long after the session itself ends.

The Social event at the Faculty Club: A night to remember

As day one came to a close, it was time for the evening program. Special credit goes to Dieuweke, who arranged transportation using the Sparta players’ bus. Fun fact: Dieuwke is a dedicated Sparta supporter, which naturally meant a personal photoshoot with the bus was absolutely required.

While our guests travelled toward the evening venue, for the first time that day, I realised there was very little left for me to organize.

Instead, I spent the evening enjoying conversations with attendees and quietly searching for volunteers willing to appear in the conference aftermovie. Thankfully, several guests were happy to participate.The dinner was excellent. Even as someone who does not normally choose vegetarian meals, I can confidently say the meat was not missed. Each course was introduced by the host, adding an extra personal touch to the evening. The night ended with a pub quiz hosted by De Microfoonman. Once again, I was reminded that my general knowledge leaves plenty of room for improvement. Despite what may or may not have been whispered between teammates here and there, I somehow still did not end up on the winning team.

By the end of the evening, we were tired, slightly overheated and definitely feeling the effects of the previous day’s city walk. But above all, we were happy.

Day 2: Pediatrics, product development and more

The second day opened with a session focused on paediatric development, a particularly important and challenging topic within the pharmaceutical field. The presentations highlighted how different children are from adults and why developing medicines and nutritional products for younger populations requires dedicated approaches. It was a fascinating reminder that one size rarely fits all in healthcare.

Where the magic happens: a look at the lab

After lunch, it was time to head upstairs and show everyone what happens at InnoGI.

Visitors were given the opportunity to tour our laboratories and see the technology in action. Guests watched the TIM Upper GI system running with carrot juice (we do seem to have a thing for orange at InnoGI) while our technicians explained the analytical procedures that support our studies. The tours also included TIM Cell and TIM Colon, providing a closer look at the various models and their applications.

The final scientific session featured presentations on additional applications of TIM technology, including canine research, before the honour of delivering the closing scientific presentation went to our own Connor. He did a fantastic job keeping the audience engaged right until the very end.

It’s a Wrap!

Jeroen returned to the stage to officially close the conference. We managed to stay on schedule a small miracle perhaps, especially with Jeroen guiding us through the day as host. Anyone who knows Jeroen will appreciate that this achievement deserves recognition all by itself.

The conference concluded with drinks, final conversations and, of course, a traditional Dutch bitterbal. Before leaving, attendees received a goodie bag containing a few souvenirs, including yet MORE stroopwafels.

As the final attendees left, it was a wrap for the InnoGI team. The conference had run smoothly, the discussions had been valuable, and the atmosphere had been exactly what we had hoped for. After one final round of cleaning up and packing away equipment, it was finally time to head home for some well-deserved rest.

The 1st InnoGI Conference was no longer something we were planning.

It had happened.

And it was worth every step.