XVI Congress of the Society of Microbiologists of Ukraine at TNMU
From June 2-6, 2025, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University hosted the delegates of the XVI Congress of the S. Vinohradsky Society of Microbiologists of Ukraine. The grand opening took place on June 3, 2025, in the university’s assembly hall, beginning with a minute of silence to honor fallen Heroes.
The President of the Society of Microbiologists of Ukraine, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Professor Valentyn Pidhorsky, thanked the head of TNMU, Mykhailo Korda, for the warm welcome and assistance in organizing the event. He also noted that leading scientists in microbiology and virology arrived at the congress to present their work, which is reflected in nearly 300 abstracts. In total, 103 delegates from 16 territorial branches arrived at TNMU during these days, and a significant number of researchers presented their scientific achievements and participated in discussions online.
The Rector of TNMU, Professor Mykhailo Korda performed an important mission – presenting a diploma and mantle of honorary professor of Ternopil National Medical University to Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Director of the D. Zabolotny Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Professor, Laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine in Science and Technology, Mykola Spivak.
Mykola Spivak noted that receiving such a title was a complete surprise for him. “It was a very touching moment for me. Honestly, I did not expect such attention and respect. Ternopil Medical University made great efforts to organize the congress and receive delegates. Receiving the title of honorary professor of TNMU obliges me to make even greater efforts for the development of microbiological science in Ukraine,” he added.
During the opening, Valentyn Pidhorsky presented acknowledgments for a significant contribution to the development of microbiology to the team of the Ternopil branch of the SMU, represented by Svitlana Pyda, Head of the Department of Botany and Zoology at V. Hnatiuk Ternopil National Pedagogical University. Certificates and acknowledgments were also received by TNMU Rector Mykhailo Korda, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases with Epidemiology, Skin and Venereal Diseases at TNMU, Honored Worker of Science and Technology of Ukraine, Professor Mykhailo Andreychyn, and Head of the Department of Microbiology, Virology and Immunology at TNMU, Professor Serhiy Klymnyuk.
Valentyn Pidhorsky also presented a report on the activities of the Society of Microbiologists of Ukraine, emphasizing the achievements of the society’s members, including “nearly 3000 scientific articles published, of which 1000 are indexed in Scopus and Web of Science, 47 monographs published, 9 of them abroad, 15 chapters in foreign monographs, 18 textbooks, 70 manuals, and over 50 medical recommendations. Scientists received 120 patents, 7 of which are international.” After this, the head of the audit commission, Professor Lyudmyla Avdieieva, reported to those present. The delegates elected a new president of the SMU, who became Academician Mykola Spivak.
During the first day of the congress, 9 plenary reports were heard and discussed, dedicated to modern achievements in microbiology and immunology, the development of microbiological research, the influence of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation on microorganisms, the reaction of phagocytes to bacteriophage double-stranded RNA in vitro, the causes of the appearance and spread of emergent viral infections of plants in Ukraine, and other topics.
The next day, delegates heard 8 plenary reports and discussed many studies during sectional meetings. On June 4, 5 parallel sections were working, including “Microorganism Ecology and Biodiversity,” “Microbial Biotechnologies, Nanobiotechnologies, Bioremediation,” “Medical, Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology,” “Physiology, Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology of Microorganisms,” and “Virology.”
During the plenary sessions on June 5, congress delegates had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with 8 plenary reports and also discuss topics in sectional meetings.
