The Eliava Institute was founded in 1923 by distinguished Georgian physician, bacteriologist and phage researcher Prof. George Eliava. An extraordinary role in the institute’s development was played by famous French-Canadian scientist Felix D’Herelle, who first discovered bacteriophages.


The Eliava Institute employs almost 130 researchers, technicians and administrative staff. The institute comprises of eight units:

Laboratory of General Microbiology

Laboratory of Applied Microbiology

Laboratory of Microbial Ecology

Laboratory of Molecular Biology

Laboratory of Virology and Immunology

Bacterial and Strain Collection

R&D Department

Biological Control Group

The Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology and Virology (IBMV) continues its wealthy tradition of work in applied microbiology and bacteriophage research. The most important goal of the ongoing research is the development of ecologically safe biopreparations and appropriate methodologies for their future application for human and animal health, agriculture and environmental protection.

The Eliava Institute implements several projects in the following fields:

• Bacteriophage Research
• Phage Diagnostics, Therapy and Prophylaxis
• Clinical Microbiology
• Environmental Microbiology
• Food Microbiology
• Infectious Immunology
• Biotechnology
• Microbial and Phage Genetics
• Biodefence
• Plant protection

Contact Details:

G. Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology and Virology
3, Gotua str., Tbilisi 0160, Georgia
Tel: +995 322 37 4910

Director: Dr. Mzia Kutateladze
Tel: +995 322 381604 Fax: +995 322 374910
E-mail: kutateladze@pha.ge