Session 3 - Panel Discussion

This discussion features Andrew Bartko, Alexandra Zhernakov, and George Gerber, along with Chair and Co-Chair Hania Szajewska and Flavia Indrio, and answered questions on the virome, the applications of new technology in microbiome research and the use of AI. Among those tackled under the virome include expounding on virome research, trying to identify the beneficial and detrimental, recounting means to enrich virome research through bacteria, effects of COVID on the virome, and ways to move forward in this field of study. On microbiome and new technologies, questions were raised about reasons for getting the microbiome mapped and its relations with different aspects of health, and how long it takes for the microbiome to adjust to new environments and the dysbiosis it may cause. Finally, on AI in healthcare, precautions in its applications, biases and care in translating to machines and training them, and measures to control AI so as to ensure its safety and ability to augment the work of doctors without replacing them were also explored.