GIMM Festival Gathers Microbiology Experts in Lisbon
Lisbon will host the GIMM Festival from September 17-19, 2026, bringing together international microbiology experts to discuss emerging viruses and antimicrobial resistance.
The second edition of the GIMM Festival is set to take place in Lisbon from September 17 to 19, 2026, gathering internationally renowned microbiology researchers. The event will focus on the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance, the impact of microorganisms on human health, and biological engineering.
Under the theme 'Microbes – The Questions of the Future,' the festival aims to foster dialogue between science, society, and biomedical innovation. Key discussions will revolve around the role of microorganisms in human health, biological evolution, and ecosystem sustainability, addressing urgent questions posed by pandemics, antimicrobial resistance, and environmental change.
Confirmed speakers include Nobel laureate Charles M. Rice (2020 Nobel Prize in Medicine), recognized for his work on the hepatitis C virus. Other notable participants are Yasmine Belkaid, President of the Institut Pasteur and a pioneer in microbiome research, Bonnie Bassler of Princeton University, an expert in bacterial communication (quorum sensing), and Isabel Gordo from GIMM, who studies bacterial evolution and antibiotic resistance mechanisms.
The three-day event will facilitate discussions between scientists and the public on pressing 21st-century challenges. Topics range from host-microbe interactions and disease to antimicrobial resistance, emerging viruses, pandemic preparedness, and advancements in microorganism engineering and synthetic biology.
The festival positions Lisbon as an international hub for scientific debate in microbiology and global health, highlighting the critical role of research in addressing current and future global health threats.