On May 10-13, 2026, the international postgraduate course "Bacteriophage Therapy and Phage-derived Proteins: Dual Strategies Against Antimicrobial Resistance and for Diagnostic Innovation" was organized by Tbilisi State Medical University and the G. Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology and Virology, with the support of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID).

This course is the first postgraduate educational program in the field of microbiology and infectious diseases in Georgia to receive accreditation (17.5 credit points) from the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME).

The course officially was opened at Tbilisi State Medical University, where participants were welcomed by the Rector of the University, Professor Irakli Natroshvili. Opening remarks were also delivered by: Tea Giorgadze,  Deputy Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia.

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

Professor Tamar Didbariadze, Head of the TSMU Microbiology Department.

Dr. Mzia Kutateladze expressed gratitude to Tbilisi State Medical University for hosting the event. She   highlighted the growing importance of phage therapy in combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR), one of the most pressing global public health challenges.

Medical professionals from the Eliava Phage Therapy center, as well as doctors and scientists from different countries provided the presentations about their clinical experience in phage treatment, 

The following days of the course were dedicated to theoretical and practical seminars, which were held at the G. Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology and Virology. The educational process was led by both, Georgian and international experts from the US, Belgium, Canada, Israel, Portugal, Switzerland, Italy, France, Germany, Poland.

The theoretical sessions focused on reviewing interesting clinical cases in phage therapy; during the practical workshops, participants were introduced to antibiotic and phage susceptibility methods, also interpretation and analysis of laboratory results.

The Course brought together 47 participants from 26 countries worldwide, including infectious disease specialists, clinical microbiologists, physicians from various medical disciplines, pharmacists, and public health professionals.