Vientiane Capital, 12^th September 2025 – As part of the PIMES project, funded through the Fonds Équipe France (FEF) programme of the French Embassy, IPL hosted its second bioinformatics workshop from 1st to 11th September 2025.

The workshop was led by Dr. Thomas Bigot and Dr. Julia Kende from Institut Pasteur, France, and brought together scientists from IPL, the Lao-Oxford-Mahosot-Wellcome Trust Research Unit (LOMWRU), the National Animal Health Laboratory (NAHL), the Lao Tropical and Public Health Institute (Lao TPHI), and the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge.

Participants were introduced to key bioinformatics concepts and methodologies, including sequence homology, long-read sequencing, molecular phylogenetics, Bayesian approaches, and pathogen discovery. The training also included a dedicated introduction to the Galaxy platform, allowing participants to apply bioinformatics workflows and analytical tools through practical exercises.

The second part of the workshop focused on computational skills essential for modern biological research. Topics included computer fundamentals, Python programming for bioinformatics, and the development of analytical pipelines using command-line tools and Snakemake.

By combining theoretical knowledge with hands-on training, the workshop contributed to strengthening regional expertise in bioinformatics and advanced genomic data analysis, supporting research and pathogen surveillance activities across partner institutions.