Seminar held at National Veterinary Institute on Microbiome Approaches

A scientific seminar titled “Use of Microbiome Approaches to Characterize Microbiota Dynamics” was held on April 28, 2026, at the NVI, bringing together researchers, technical staff, and students with a shared interest in microbiology, genomics, and antimicrobial resistance.

The seminar was officially opened by Dr. Takele Abayneh, CEO of the National Veterinary Institute (NVI). In his opening remarks, Dr. Takele emphasized the critical importance of such seminars in strengthening institutional capacity, promoting knowledge exchange, and keeping researchers abreast of rapidly evolving scientific technologies.

The keynote presentation was delivered by Dr. Zelalem Mekuria, Assistant Professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Infectious Disease Institute (IDI), Ohio State University.

Dr. Zelalem provided valuable insights into modern genomics and metagenomics tools, demonstrating how these approaches can be applied to better understand microbial communities and support research in animal and public health.

During the session, participants actively engaged in discussions, reflecting strong interest in applying advanced microbiome and bioinformatics tools within their respective research areas.

In his remarks, Dr. Mirtneh Akalu, Head of the Research and Development Department, noted that this seminar serves as an initial step to inspire participants to explore advanced technologies. He added that future programs will include hands-on training sessions to provide practical experience and deepen technical competencies.

Finally, Dr. Berecha Bayissa, Operations Executive, concluded the event by emphasizing the need for researchers and technical staff to continuously upgrade their skills in modern technologies. He encouraged participants to cultivate an innovation-driven mindset and remain proactive in learning emerging scientific tools, noting that such initiatives are essential in today’s highly competitive research environment.