23rd Biennial Evergreen International Phage Meeting

Project SummaryThe use of phages in biotechnology and pathogen control has expanded exponentially in the recent past andmany biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies are developing phage or phage-based therapeutics. The23rd Biennial Evergreen International Phage Meeting works to bring together a diverse group of bothfundamental phage researchers and biotechnologists who are engaged in the science of applying phagebiology to current needs in animal and human health, food safety, biotechnology, and other applications. Themeeting, scheduled for August 4-10, 2019, will be held at its traditional location of Olympia, WA, in the forestedsetting of The Evergreen State College. Presentations will include 5 full days of keynote talks by invitedspeakers as well as talks chosen from submitted abstracts and extensive display and discussion of postersfrom most participants.The funding will facilitate the participation of U.S. young investigators, under-represented minorities, phagescientists from underdeveloped countries, and leading international invited speakers. The projects specificaims are to (1) provide a forum for 250-350 participants from academic, governmental, and industriallaboratories globally to share recent advances in bacteriophage ecology, biology, and biotechnology, (2)present a program that captures the most significant recent advances in phage ecology, phage-hostinteractions, phage biotechnology (detection and diagnostics), phage therapy, and phage molecularmechanisms, (3) provide an opportunity for young investigators (graduate students, postdocs, junior faculty) topresent their research and to interact closely with well-established and influential scientists in their fields, (4)provide an opportunity for academic and government scientists, as well as scientists-in-training, to interact withtheir counterparts in commercial industries, and for scientists from these developing industries to interactproductively with each other, (5) provide an opportunity for international scientists, many from countries thatare financially resource poor but rich with expertise in phage biology, an opportunity to interact and collaboratewith scientists from other nations with access to state-of-the-art equipment and instrumentation, and (6)provide an opportunity for talented women, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities to berecognized and participate actively in a meeting that showcases their results, facilitates interactions with otherscientists in their fields, and often leads them to key collaborations.