The International Milk Genomics Consortium (IMGC) is a scientific society created in 2004 by researchers from the University of California Davis and colleagues with the goal to sequence the bovine lactation genome which was published in Genome Biology in 2009. Today, the IMGC is made up of hundreds of scientists and innovators from around the world who share the overarching goal to discover the functions and impact of lactation and its remarkable product, milk. Our platforms are designed to bring scientific discoveries to practice for human health.
Leveraging from a Broad Spectrum of Fields
The IMGC’s scientific base derives from a broad spectrum of research fields united by a shared interest in milk science and health. The IMGC connects the global community of scientists working within genomics and across other scientific disciplines to address some of the major challenges to health. Our focus on milk is based on its uniqueness as it is the only food that has evolved specifically to nourish mammals. Therefore, through their genomes, mammals contain the evolutionary blueprint of the selection pressure on milk as a nutritional, metabolic and immunological health support system. Over the years, IMGC has provided a hub for this diverse community of scientists and innovators to carry on applications of cutting-edge science.
Vision
The IMGC’s vision is to be the world’s knowledge hub of mechanistic science, innovation and impact of milk science in order to improve health.
Mission
The IMGC’s mission is to provide a collaborative, multi-disciplinary,
pre-competitive platform for scientific discoveries of the structures,
functions, actions and benefits of milk and to facilitate
the translation of that knowledge into practice for health.
Objectives
The IMGC leads the global community in the scientific exploration of milk science–the most exciting and translatable scientific fields of study for health. The IMGC guides scientists and innovators from around the world and across all scientific disciplines to solve challenges in the field.
Our Platforms
The IMGC increases awareness of scientific advancements and identifies actionable opportunities in milk science through four platforms.
Platform #1:
The Annual Symposium
The Annual IMGC Symposium is hosted every fall at UC Davis or a different location worldwide and features the latest, cutting-edge research and scientific discoveries in milk science and their applications for human health. Each year, IMGC opens a call for abstracts that undergo blinded review by the IMGC Scientific Advisory Committee. Authors whose abstracts rank highest are invited to present their work with travel expenses paid.
Platform #2:
The Awards Program
The Awards Program was created to recognize outstanding scientists from different stages in their careers from students to world-renowned emeriti. The program highlights scientists for their significant discoveries, advancements; and distinguished careers in milk science.
Platform #3:
SPLASH!® Milk Science Update, founded in 2012, is the IMGC’s bi-monthly, scientific publication that translates the latest the scientific discoveries in milk science from primary literature into accessible articles for a broader audience. Our audience includes academic scientists, industry scientists, and interested people around the world. Readers are apprised of scientific innovation and discovery without a pay wall; our educational content is complimentary. SPLASH!® now has a searchable archive of more than 400 articles read annually by more than 200,000 readers worldwide.
Platform #4: The Annual 'ROS' Workshop
The Annual IMGC ‘ROS’ Workshop hosted virtually in the spring, focuses on the translational issues in milk science, identifies key hurdles to scientific development and recruits innovative solutions from a broad range of scientific disciplines. Named ‘ROS’ for ‘roll up one’s sleeves’, participants come away with a better understanding of bringing discoveries of science to practice. Participation is complimentary.
Our Accomplishments
Collectively, the IMGC facilitates the translation of discoveries from experimental data into usable benefits. In short, we are connecting the dots in science. Our success in advancing the field was published in PLOS ONE by Kwok et al..
Key measurements of IMGC's success are:
- • Recruiting and engaging new scientists.
- • Increasing the number of ‘lactation’ and ‘milk’-related publications and high impact papers.
- • Supporting collaborations among IMGC attendees.
As we approach future IMGC Symposia, we are proud to continue to recruit new scientists, increase productivity and impact; and foster collaborations to advance milk science. We would like to thank all of our IMGC participants and partners for working together to advance the field!