Join WorldBoston for a talk with visiting Saudi microbiologist Dr. Hosam Zowawi, a public health advocate featured in Time and National Geographic. The lecture will take place from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm, followed by a networking reception with appetizers and drinks.

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria know no borders. “The possible nightmare scenario of normally treatable infections not being treatable is a major threat to human health now and in the future,’’ says Dr. Hosam Zowawi, a microbiologist and public health advocate who has devoted his career to not only developing better diagnostic tests, but to fostering international cooperation between the medical community and general public. Having earned international recognition for developing a new tool that can identify antibiotic-resistant bacteria in hours instead of days, Dr. Zowawi is visiting Boston to share his goal of reducing the number of infectious diseases by engaging policy makers, geologists, and the public to build a multi-disciplinary network for combating superbugs with tools acquired from his innovative research locating viruses in remote locations.

About Dr. Zowawi

Dr. Hosam Zowawi is a clinical microbiologist working on the issue of antibiotic-resistant microbes through cutting edge research and raising awareness in his native Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region. As part of his PhD studies at the University of Queensland, Dr. Zowawi has developed a fast diagnostic tool called “Rapid Superbug” that identifies antibiotic resistant bacteria more rapidly than previously possible, allowing for more targeted treatments. Along with his laboratory research, Dr. Zowawi is dedicated to raising awareness of antimicrobial resistance through direct public engagement and working with the press to simplify, publicize and translate scientific papers. He is a founder of the GCC Surveillance Network for Antimicrobial Resistance, the first network of hospitals across the Gulf to share data in order to track the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistant infections. Dr. Zowawi is an Honorary Fellow at the University of Queensland, Australia’s School of Medicine.