We kicked off with a compelling keynote by Professor Stewart Cole, who provided a tour of the global TB and AMR landscape and the urgent need for collaborative action. His presentation set the perfect stage for the distinguished local experts who followed.
Or panel of local researchers delivered nothing short of an engaging and entertaining series of talks. Dr. Karine Auclair explored, with clarity and depth, ways to inhibit the growth of intracellular bacteria to minimize antimicrobial resistance. Dr. Sara Mahshid captivated the audience with her in-lab developed machines after identifying a major unmet clinical need for accurate, rapid and deployable technologies to address gaps in diagnostics and health monitoring. Dr. Yves Longtin guided us through the policy, practice and pain points of delivering results on antimicrobial resistance, offering new perspectives and exciting ongoing research. And of course, Dr. Martin Schmeing鈥檚 presentation on formulating nonribosomal peptide synthetase ignited the room not only with his scientific insights, but with a groove from Adele鈥檚 鈥淗别濒濒辞鈥�, to Chubby Checker鈥檚 鈥淟et鈥檚 Twist Again鈥�, to a culminating Miley Cyrus鈥檚 鈥淲recking Ball,鈥� we鈥檙e still debating which reference was the most effective. But one thing is certain: we all enjoyed the music mash-up.
The symposium concluded with thoughtful closing remarks and a lively Mix & Mingle, where attendees connected, shared ideas, and continued conversations sparked throughout the afternoon.
To all attendees, speakers, volunteers, photographers, and technicians 鈥� thank you for your enthusiasm, professionalism, and energy. Your presence and participation are what make the MI4 community so vibrant.
If you couldn鈥檛 join us in person, the full YouTube recording will be available soon. Check the MI4 website under Events for a link.
To stay informed about upcoming MI4 events and news, be sure to sign up for updates here.
The MI4-AMR 7th Annual Scientific Symposium demonstrated once again the strength of interdisciplinary collaboration and the power of bringing bright minds together to tackle global health challenges. We look forward to seeing you at our events throughout 2026!
