30.06.2024

International Summer School on Fundamental Phage Research

From June 20-28, 2024, the Eliava Institute of Bacteriophage, Microbiology, and Virology conducted an intensive summer school focused on fundamental bacteriophage research techniques and the study of phage-bacteria genomics. This program assembled scientists, motivated students, emerging researchers from Universities and Research- scientific Institutes of 16 countries (Ukraine, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Italy, Germany, Spain, the Nederland, US, Estonia, Iran, Japan, India, Bangladesh, Mexico, Canada).

The summer school was structured into two comprehensive modules. The first module featured an in-depth course on phage/bacteria genome sequence annotation, directed by Dr. Rebecca Wattam, Research Associate Professor at the Biocomplexity Institute, University of Virginia.

The second module integrated a series of lectures and practical sessions on the isolation, characterization, and detailed analysis of bacteriophages. The lecture series was delivered by leading scientists, including Dr. Nina Molin Høyland Kroghsbo, Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen; Dr. Davit Prangishvili, Professor at the Institute Pasteur and Tbilisi State University; Dr. Mzia Kutateladze, Director of the Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology, and Virology; and Dr. Mariam Dadiani, MD, from the Eliava Phage Therapy Center. Practical sessions on fundamental bacteriophage research were conducted by the institute’s team of young scientists.

In addition to the scientific activities, participants had the opportunity to engage in cultural enrichment through a tour in Kakheti. This tour provided an excellent opportunity for networking and informal interactions among the Eliava Summer School attendees.