Resistance of microorganisms to antibiotics is a global challenge to humanity, one that requires the joint efforts of doctors, researchers, scientists and specialists in other fields.

That is why the Wellcome Genome Campus conference Antimicrobial Resistance - Genomes, Big Data and Emerging Technologies (Virtual Conference) on November 4-6, 2020 attracted my attention.

The conference was attended by many researchers from around the world, representing various research centers as well as international organizations, computer scientists, clinicians and policymakers interested in pathogens and human genomics, epidemiology and epidemiological surveillance, development of new diagnostic tools and and translation of AMR-data into clinical practice to discuss their findings.

The conference focused on the role of genomic evidence from the internal and external environment, as well as their role in detecting, monitoring and controlling antimicrobial resistance, especially in low- and middle-income countries (which is also relevant for Ukraine). Reports on the role of vaccines in antimicrobial resistance and how bacterial genomics and metagenomics can be translated into clinical practice were also very useful.

The conference materials will be incorporated into courses on medical microbiology and epidemiology for medical students.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the US-Ukraine Foundation Biotech Initiative for this opportunity!

- Dmytro Stepanskyi, Head of the Department of Microbiology, Virology, Immunology and Epidemiology, Dnipropetrovsk Medical Academy of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine