The conference, themed 'Microbes – The Questions of the Future,' features a high-profile roster of experts, including 2020 Nobel Prize winner Charles M. Rice of Rockefeller University, known for his breakthrough work on the hepatitis C virus. Joining him are Institut Pasteur President Yasmine Belkaid, quorum sensing specialist Bonnie Bassler of Princeton University, and GIMM’s own Isabel Gordo, an ERC Advanced Grant recipient focused on the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance.

Over three days, the program shifts from theoretical evolution to practical application, covering host–microbe interactions, synthetic biology, and the ethics of microorganism engineering. Maria Manuel Mota, CEO of the Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine, emphasized the necessity of bridging the gap between rigorous scientific discovery and public understanding. By hosting these discussions in Lisbon, GIMM aims to solidify the city as a critical nexus for biomedical innovation at a time when the World Health Organization identifies drug-resistant bacteria as a top global threat.