The 2026 Irish Section Conference will consider 'Innovative approaches for optimising nutrition across the lifecycle’ and the programme will include 3 symposia:
- Nutrition across the lifecycle: Foundations for Lifelong Health
- Translating Nutrition Research into Policy and Practice
- Food systems and sustainability
This meeting is a key annual meeting of the Irish section of the nutrition society and typically attracts 150 delegates including researchers, clinical practitioners, doctoral and postgraduate students from across Ireland and the UK.
Day One
Registration
Welcome
Symposium 1 - Nutrition across the lifecycle: Foundations for Lifelong Health
The importance of vitamin B12 for neuropsychiatric heath and nutrition policy
Speaker to be confirmed
ECR Presentation speaker to be identified could be in area of first 1000 days, childhood and adolescence, menopause, sustaintable diets across the life course
Refreshment Break
Pregnancy, Obesity, and Gestational Diabetes: Current Evidence and Implications for Practice
Dr Alyson Hill, Ulster University
Feeding your epigenetic clock: the link between food and better ageing across the lifecycle
Prof Paul Shields, University of Glasgow
Lunch
Oral Communication Session One
Refreshment Break
Oral Communication Session Two
End of Day One
Evening BBQ & Networking
Day Two
Irish Postgraduate Symposium - More details will be available in due course
Refreshment Break
Julie Wallace Lecture
Oral Communication Session Three
Lunch
Irish Section AGM
Symposium 2 - Translating Nutrition Research into Policy and Practice
The application of artificial intelligence in nutrition and health research
Prof Michaela Black, Ulster University
Use of digital technologies in nutrition and Health promotion
Dr Cathal O’Hara, Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland
Refreshment Break
Assessing nutritional status using novel biomarkers
Dr Adrian McCann, Bevital Norway
Evidence, efficacy and engagement: building blocks of translational research
Dr Karen Callaghan, Kings College London
End of Day Two
Gala Dinner
Day Three
Symposium 3 - Food Systems, Sustainability and Equity in Nutrition
EAT Lancet 2 - Speaker to be confirmed
Presentation - Final details to be confirmed
Refreshment Break
Can biofortification be used as a tool to enhance the food system?
Dr Kirsty Pourshahidi, Ulster University
Presentation - Final details to be confirmed
Closing Remarks
Close of conference
This is an in-person event only.
Conference address:
Coleraine Campus
Ulster University
Cromore Rd
Coleraine BT52 1SA
There are two social events:
Wednesday 17 June: Evening BBQ & Networking from 6.30pm
Thursday 18 June: Gala Dinner from 7.30pm.
There are separate tickets available for the BBQ & Gala Dinner.
The abstract submission portal is open. Please submit your abstract HERE
Please read the guidance on how to submit your abstract using the Exordo system.
Please ensure that you read and follow the instructions to authors. You must follow all of the instructions to ensure that your abstract can be considered for publication in the Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. Your abstract does not have to relate to the specific theme of the conference. You may also find tips on writing a successful abstract useful.
How to submit a successful abstract:
1) Read and follow the instructions to the authors. It is imperative that you follow all of the instructions to ensure that your abstract can be considered for publication in the Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. Please pay particular attention to the formatting guidance, which is different to other journals.
2) Submit your abstract by 2nd April 2026 at 23:59
3) Amendments to your abstract submission will not be accepted after the deadline.
Communications
Following submission you will receive a confirmation email. All communications regarding your abstract including acknowledgement and acceptance will sent to the nominated corresponding authors on each submission. You can select more than one corresponding author. If you wish for an author to receive all updates, they must be confirmed as a corresponding author.
When will I hear if my abstract has been accepted?
Authors will hear by early mid-May 2026 if their abstract has been accepted for presentation. Although preferences for oral and poster presentations are considered, this format cannot be guaranteed and the running order cannot be amended. All presenting authors will need to register to attend the conference and attend in-person. Please note that if an author does not present at the conference, the abstract will be automatically withdrawn from publication.
If you have any queries, please contact the Society's Events Manager.
Order your tickets
Non-member
Member- To benefit from the membership rate, please log in to your membership area before completing the registration.
Student/Low-income/unwaged Member - To benefit from the membership rate, please log in to your membership area before completing the registration.