The International Conference “Solving Nature’s Mysteries Using Advanced Bioimaging Approaches” – CENTER OF EXCELLENCE AT THE ORBELI INSTITUTE OF PHYSIOLOGY

Prof. Narine Sarvazyan, ERA Chair Holder presents new scientific directions

The International Conference “Solving Nature’s Mysteries Using Advanced Bioimaging Approaches” was jointly organized by ERA Chair project funded by the European Union and the BIO-SEE initiative funded by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.

The conference, held from November 4-6, attracted over 150 professionals from a variety of institutions who utilize advanced imaging technologies.
It featured international speakers from leading universities in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, and Brazil, as well as experts from the IPH and the Armenian research community. The event was officially opened by ERA Chair holder, Prof. Narine Sarvazyan, and Prof. Naira Ayvazyan, Director of IPH and Project Coordinator, delivered a welcoming address.

The first day of the conference kicked off with keynote lectures by Academician Pavel Balaban and Professor Shandor Gyorke, setting the stage for the discussions that followed. The sessions on cardiovascular and neuronal research included contributions from the ERA Chair team.
On Day 2, the focus shifted to Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Toxinology.
The day concluded with a poster session with over 40 presentations by researchers from Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and Russia, ranging from established scientists to young researchers, students from the American University of Armenia, and trainees from the BIO-SEE and ERA Chair projects.
An international panel of judges evaluated the posters based on five criteria: design, clarity, findings, presentation, and relevance. Each panel included three invited guest speakers and one young researcher, offering an educational opportunity for the latter to gain insights into the evaluation process. After careful consideration, the best posters were selected based on the judges’ collective scores. The final day of the conference was dedicated entirely to exploring Emerging Technologies and New Approaches, with presentations and discussions on the latest advancements in the field.

The conference concluded with presentations by representatives from local agencies and international initiatives, highlighting opportunities for collaboration and funding,
including overview of the Horizon Europe program provided by Mr. Tigran Arzumanyan,
Chairman of SIPAC and EU Horizon Europe NCP Coordinator. The event ended with an award ceremony, recognizing the winners of the Best Poster and Best Image competitions.
The Book of Abstracts presented at the conference has been published with ISBN 978-9939-1-1949-9. The conference was broadcast on H1 National TV Channel, featuring interviews with the IPH Director, the ERA Chair Holder, and invited guest speakers.