Science and Innovation Day in Georgia - Bacteriophages for Sustainable Ecosystem

Georgia’s history of research and innovation in bacteriophages dates back to 19232 . In this millennium, bacteriophages are gaining greater momentum globally. For example, the World Economic Forum named “designer phages” as one of the top 10 emerging technologies of 20233 underscoring that “phages are showing potential for treating microbiome-associated diseases and revolutionizing the engineering of microbiomes for human, animal and plant health.’’

Microbes are ubiquitous inhabitants of living organism bodies, and the intricate communities they form, known as microbiomes, they are pivotal to the health of humans, animals, and plants alike. Recent scientific strides have enabled the manipulation of microbiomes to enhance both human and animal well-being and agricultural productivity.

Central to this advancement are bacteriophages – viruses with the remarkable ability to selectively infect specific bacteria. This biological tool empowers scientists to engineer phages, modifying infected bacteria to execute tailored genetic instructions. With the growing need for One Health, that is an integrated, unifying approach to balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and the environment, bacteriophages create an important avenue for innovative and targeted solutions in combating bacterial infections across these interconnected domains.

Event Highlights 

The keynote lecture will feature Prof. David Prangishvili shedding light on the latest breakthroughs, challenges, and transformative potential of phages as well as the history of development of the field in Georgia. He will explore the broad context of research and innovation where reprogramming microbiomes through engineered phages could revolutionize human and animal well-being as well as agriculture, building more sustainable future through science.

The subsequent panel discussion will bring together a diverse range of perspectives. Panellists will deliberate on the practical dimensions of harnessing bacteriophages for agri-food system sustainability, breakthroughs in the science around bacteriophages and research frontiers for next generation of scientists and innovators. 

Organizers

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); World Health Organization (WHO); Environmental Information and Education Center of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia; Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University; the Georgian Association for General and Applied Microbiology.

Working Language

Georgian, simultaneous translation will be provided in English

Location

Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, event hall, 2nd floor

#1 Ilia Chavchavadze Av., Tbilisi, Georgia

Agenda

3:00pm – Opening Remarks

Rector of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Prof. Jaba Samushia

Assistant Representative of the FAO in Georgia, Mr. Mamuka Meskhi

Chair of Committee on Agrarian Issues at Parliament of Georgia, Ms. Nino Tsilosani

Minister of Science and Education of Georgia, Mr. Giorgi Amilakhvari (TBC)

Director of the Environmental Information and Education Center of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Ms. Tamar Aladashvili

3:30pm – Keynote lecture

Honorary professor of the Pasteur Institute (Paris, France), Guest professor of the Iv. Javakhisvhili Tbilisi State University (Tbilisi, Georgia), President of the Georgian Association for General and Applied Microbiology, Prof. David Prangishvili

4:00pm – Panel discussion

Director of the George Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology and Virology, Dr. Mzia Kutateladze

Full professor of the NewVision University (Tbilisi, Georgia) and Head of the Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnology of the George Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology and Virology, Prof. Nino Chanishvili

Representative of the National Center of Disease Control and Public Health (TBC)

Representative of the MEPA’s Scientific-Research Center of Agriculture, Ms. Maia Metreveli

FAO-Georgia National Team Leader of the National Animal Identification and Traceability System (NAITS) project, veterinarian, Mr. Mikheil Sokhadze

Closing remarks followed by reception

4:40pm – WHO Representative and Head of WHO Country Office in Georgia, Mr. Silviu Domente