16 June 2026 news
We are pleased to announce an upcoming workshop at the 26th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, taking place in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on October 18, 2026.
This one-day workshop, titled “Innovative in vitro, ex vivo and in silico methods to study marine mammal sensitivity to anthropogenic pressures,” will explore emerging approaches for assessing the impacts of human activities on marine mammals.
Early bird registration deadline: 24th June 2026
Full details and registration information: https://www.smmconference.org/workshops/
Workshop Description
This interactive workshop will share and exchange knowledge and experience on methodologies and applications obtained primarily through two large research projects Marma-detox, and SLICE. The techniques include primary cell cultures, precision‑cut adipose‑tissue slice cultures, controlled exposure studies, multi‑omics and molecular endpoints, genome mining, and receptor toxicology. We will consider comparability between in vitro and in silico approaches, and the use of correlative studies to link laboratory results with field observations. The workshop will also cover applications of these approaches in risk assessment and policy-relevant frameworks.
The workshop is planned as a one-day, hands-on, discussion-driven session divided into three modules:
1) In vitro and ex vivo approaches:
- Methodology
- Exposure studies, multi-omics and molecular endpoints
2) Genome mining and receptor toxicology
3) Marine mammals as One Ocean Health indicators
Interactive elements will include short demonstrations of practical methodologies, data examples, case studies, and a panel discussion.
Organization committee
Dr. Pierre Blévin, Akvaplan-niva, Norway
Dr. Heli Routti, Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway
Prof. Anders Goksøyr, University of Bergen, Norway
Prof. Cathy Debier, UCLouvain, Belgium
Dr. Sofie Søderstrøm, Postdoctoral Researcher at University of Bergen, Norway
Dr. Laura Pirard, Postdoctoral Researcher at Akvaplan-niva, Norway
Prof. Kimberley Bennett, Abertay University, UK
