About the conference#
The Global Microbial Identifier (GMI) community is pleased to invite scientists, public health professionals, veterinarians, food safety experts, environmental specialists, policy makers and industry partners to the 16th Global Microbial Identifier Conference (GMI16), to be held in Tunis, Tunisia, on 24–25 September 2026.
The GMI16 is organised by the Tunisian Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale" (IZSAM). It will bring together international experts and stakeholders working across the One Health spectrum to explore how genomics, data sharing, and collaborative surveillance systems can support the prevention, detection and response to biological threats affecting humans, animals, food systems and the environment.
Topics#
The conference will address key themes, including:
One Health genomics and global surveillance perspectives
Genomic surveillance experiences from Africa, Asia and other LMICs
Antimicrobial resistance surveillance across human, animal and environmental sectors
Environmental and wastewater-based genomic surveillance
Economic evaluation and sustainability of genomic surveillance programmes
Legal, ethical and governance frameworks for genomic data sharing
Data platforms, interoperability and regional-to-global surveillance networks
Artificial intelligence, genomic data analysis and decision support
Community building, capacity development and equitable access to genomic technologies
Invited speakers#
GMI16 brings together a distinguished panel of invited speakers from international organisations, public health agencies, academia and regional networks, grouped below by thematic area.
Genomics in One Health and Global Perspectives#
LMICs experiences (Africa and Asia)#
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)#
Environment: wastewater#
The economic evaluation of WGS for public health#
Legal framework of WGS and Accreditation (SOP/ISO)#
Data platform and sharing for surveillance: Global, Regional and Local#
AI, WGS and data sharing#
Registration#
Registration#
Join scientists, public health professionals, veterinarians, food safety experts, environmental specialists, policy makers and industry partners in Tunis, Tunisia, for the 16th Global Microbial Identifier Conference on 24–25 September 2026.
Agenda#
You can download the draft agenda below. The programme is provisional and may be subject to change, so please check back closer to the conference for the most up-to-date version.
Event details#
Venue#
GMI 16 will be held at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Center, Tunis, located in the heart of Tunisia's capital, just a short drive from Tunis–Carthage International Airport.
The Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Center is one of the city's leading conference venues, offering modern meeting facilities, state-of-the-art technology and flexible event spaces designed to host international conferences. Its central location provides convenient access to Tunis' main cultural and historical attractions, including the Medina, the City of Culture and the shores of Lake Tunis.
Combining contemporary comfort with excellent conference facilities, the venue offers an ideal setting for scientific exchange, networking and collaboration. Participants will also have the opportunity to experience the rich history, vibrant culture and renowned hospitality of Tunis during their stay.
Getting to the venue#
From Tunis–Carthage International Airport
- By car or taxi: the journey takes approximately 12–13 minutes, depending on traffic;
- By bus: from the bus stop just outside the terminal, take a bus towards the city centre and get off at the Avenue Mohamed V stop; the venue is a short walk away.
Accommodation#
For the convenience of GMI 16 participants, a selection of hotels located within walking distance (less than 1 km) of the conference venue is available.
Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Center, Tunis (conference venue)#
A special accommodation rate has been negotiated for GMI 16 participants:
- Standard single room (bed & breakfast): 475 TND per room, per night;
- Standard double room (bed & breakfast): 560 TND per room, per night.
Please note that city tax is not included and must be paid upon check-in: 3 TND per person per night for Maghrebian guests and 12 TND per person per night for international guests, according to current local regulations.
To benefit from the negotiated rate, participants should contact Ms Meriem Slaiti, Sales Executive, at sales.tunis@radissonblu.com, quoting the booking code ITALVIE.
Radisson Hotel Tunis City Center#
Special accommodation rates are also available at the Radisson Hotel Tunis City Center. For reservations, participants should contact Mr Manar Bourkhis, Sales Coordinator, at manar.bourkhis@radisson.com.
Ibis Tunis and Novotel Tunis#
Participants may also choose to stay at the Ibis Tunis or the Novotel Tunis. Reservations can be made directly through the Accor Hotels website.
Entry Requirements for Tunisia#
Participants are responsible for checking the entry requirements applicable to their nationality, country of residence, travel document and length of stay before travelling to Tunisia.
Participants are strongly advised to verify whether a visa is required for short stays in Tunisia. Entry requirements may vary depending on nationality, passport type, country of residence and the purpose and duration of the stay. Participants should consult the official Tunisian consular authorities or the Tunisian Embassy/Consulate in their country of residence well in advance of their travel date.
As a general indication, participants may be required to provide the following documents:
- A valid passport or other recognised travel document;
- A visa, where required according to nationality and length/type of stay;
- Documents justifying the purpose and conditions of the planned stay, such as:
- return or round-trip ticket;
- hotel reservation or proof of accommodation;
- invitation letter or confirmation of participation in the conference.
Participants are strongly advised to check the applicable requirements before making travel arrangements.
For any questions or specific requests related to the conference, please contact the Organising Secretariat at: gmi@izs.it
Local Transport and Connectivity#
For local transportation in Tunis, participants are advised to use reliable ride-hailing services for their transfers within the city, including travel between the airport, hotel, conference venue and social event locations.
We recommend downloading the InDrive application on your mobile phone before arrival and using it for local transfers during your stay in Tunis. See the InDrive download guide for instructions.
Participants are also advised to exchange some money into the local currency upon arrival at the airport, as InDrive rides in Tunis currently require cash payment.
To ensure smooth use of transport applications, maps and online communication tools, participants are encouraged to arrange mobile internet access during their stay. This can be done either through an international roaming plan or by purchasing a local SIM card/eSIM with data upon arrival in Tunisia.
Organised by the Tunisian Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale” (IZSAM)
This page is under continuous update. New information will be added as it becomes available, so please check back regularly for the latest updates on the programme, speakers, logistics and conference materials.