Dear fungal enthusiast,
Every two years, and for the past 26, the international mycology community gathers to push the boundaries of what we know about medicinal mushrooms at the premier global event dedicated to the science, cultivation, and clinical application of edible and medicinal fungi, to which MycoStories is a proud partner of.
This September, that conversation is heading to Bragança, Portugal, where the 13th International Medicinal Mushroom Conference will bring together research scientists, healthcare practitioners, mycologists, biotech innovators, policy makers, and everyone in between who recognises that fungi hold remarkable answers to some of our most pressing health challenges.
What makes this iteration particularly compelling is the breadth of what’s on the table. We’re talking about everything from precision nutrition and psychedelic therapeutics to microbiome interactions, climate resilience, and the ethical frameworks we’ll need as this field accelerates.
The organisers have designed IMMC13 as a multidisciplinary forum, deliberately so, because the most interesting breakthroughs don’t happen in silos. They happen when a nutritionist sits next to an AI researcher, or when traditional knowledge holders collaborate with regulatory experts.
Registration are open with early bird pricing available until mid-July.
If you’ve got research to share, the abstract deadline has been extended to 15th June to accommodate the volume of interest.
Here’s what you need to know about getting involved...
An 18-week clinical trial found that daily consumption of maitake mushrooms significantly improved cognitive scores in healthy older adults, particularly in memory, with results suggesting potential benefits for slowing cognitive decline. The cognitive improvements correlated with increased natural killer cell activity, indicating an immune-mediated mechanism that may help clear amyloid-beta and support brain health, though larger studies are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.
⚡️ Learn more here ⚡️
Researchers have extracted chitosan-like polymer from Ganoderma lucidum (reishi mushroom) to create antimicrobial wound dressings, offering a shellfish-free alternative to conventional materials. Films combining this fungal chitosan with gelatin and silver nanoparticles demonstrated strong activity against bacteria and fungi, though higher nanoparticle concentrations risked cell toxicity. The optimal formulation achieved effective antimicrobial coverage whilst preserving fibroblast viability, pointing toward viable fungal-derived dressings for chronic wound management.
⚡️ Learn more here ⚡️
Bristol-based Mykor has raised £4 million to accelerate production of its mycelium-based construction panels, which are grown from agricultural waste in days rather than extracted from finite resources. The company’s biofabrication technology achieves approximately 50% lower embodied carbon than conventional building materials whilst using 90% less water and 40% less electricity than polystyrene alternatives. With £338 million in offtake agreements already secured and tightening EU and UK building regulations driving demand, Mykor is positioned to embed sustainable biomaterials into mainstream construction supply chains.
⚡️ Learn more here ⚡️
StrainX Bioworks, a Bhopal-based precision fermentation company founded by IIT Delhi alumni, has emerged from stealth with $13M in funding and achieved a significant regulatory milestone by securing FDA GRAS self-affirmation for one of its ingredients. The company distinguishes itself by building proprietary manufacturing infrastructure rather than relying on contract manufacturers, with plans to scale fermentation capacity to 100,000 litres whilst claiming to have already reached price parity with conventional ingredients.
⚡️ Learn more here ⚡️
MycoStories works with founders, investors, industry leaders, and research institutions.
Leveraging a global network of subject-matter experts, MycoStories helps founders scale their business, guides investors and industry leaders in identifying high-potential opportunities, and empower researchers to translate their work into real-world applications.
Don’t hesitate to reach-out. If we can’t help, someone within the community will. ✊🏽
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