Mamuka Kotetishvili, PhD, is a molecular epidemiologist of infectious diseases and international health expert specializing primarily in antimicrobial resistance and the evolutionary biology of infectious agents. Born in 1964 in Georgia during the Soviet era, his career spans a transformative period marked by the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the emergence of new global scientific collaborations. Dr. Kotetishvili conducted extensive research at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, where he contributed significantly to the understanding of microbial genetics and pathogen evolution. Since returning to Georgia in 2009, he has held several academic and research leadership roles, playing a key part in advancing scientific research and education in the region. In 2024, he was appointed Director of the One Health Institute at the University of Georgia in Tbilisi. His research has focused on antimicrobial resistance, genetic diversity, and evolutionary divergence among infectious agents, particularly those that are foodborne or zoonotic. His work has provided critical insights into both interspecies and intraspecies dynamics, as well as the mechanisms driving resistance—issues central to global public health.

Throughout his career, Dr. Kotetishvili has contributed to the scientific community not only through his publications but also through editorial and advisory roles. He has served on the editorial boards of several prominent journals, including the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, BMC Microbiology, and the Journal of AIDS Research and Treatment. As an ad hoc reviewer, he has supported the peer-review process for more than 20 leading scientific journals across the United States and Europe. In addition, Dr. Kotetishvili has held faculty and scientific committee roles at major institutions such as the University of Maryland and the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). He has also been actively involved in international scientific governance, serving as a member of the Governing Board and Science Committee of the European One Health Association (EOHA) in France.