Microbiology Experts to Convene in Lisbon for GIMM Festival

Lisbon, Portugal – The GIMM Festival, scheduled for September 17-19 in Lisbon, will bring together world-leading microbiology researchers to discuss current and future challenges. The event will focus on how microorganisms adapt, communicate, and impact human health, addressing issues such as antimicrobial resistance and the emergence of new viruses.

Under the theme "Microbes – The Questions of the Future," the festival aims to foster dialogue between science, society, and biomedical innovation. Confirmed speakers include Nobel laureate Charles M. Rice, Bonnie Bassler of Princeton University, Yasmine Belkaid of Institut Pasteur, and Isabel Gordo from GIMM. Their research spans areas from Hepatitis C virus identification to microbiome-immune system interactions and bacterial communication.

The three-day event will feature discussions on host-microbe interactions, diseases, antibiotic resistance, and preparedness for future pandemics, alongside topics like microbe engineering and synthetic biology. The World Health Organization identifies antibiotic resistance as a major global health threat, potentially causing millions of deaths in the coming decades if unmet.

"The microscopic world has profound impacts on our health, ecosystems, and the future of biotechnology," stated Maria Manuel Mota, Director of the Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine. "The GIMM Festival aims to bring researchers and society closer to discuss how these discoveries can shape the future." The event positions Lisbon as an international hub for scientific discourse.