# George Eliava Institute

> phage therapy center in Tbilisi, Georgia

**Wikidata**: [Q1329245](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1329245)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Eliava_Institute)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/george-eliava-institute

## Summary
The George Eliava Institute is a phage therapy center and research institute located in Tbilisi, Georgia. Founded in 1916 by George Eliava, the institute operates as a dedicated research organization specializing in bacteriophages, microbiology, and virology. It is officially known as the George Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology and Virology.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1916 by George Eliava
- Located in Tbilisi, Georgia at coordinates 41.73408333°N, 44.772°E
- Instance of: Research institute
- Website: http://www.eliava-institute.org
- Official full name: George Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology and Virology
- Also known as: Giorgi Eliava Institute, Tbilisi Institute, Institut de George Eliava
- ISNI: 0000000460231927
- ROR ID: 00d9pfn36
- GRID ID: grid.428904.3
- KISTI ID: K000212459
- UK Parliament Thesaurus ID: 513879
- Freebase ID: /m/09lnpy
- Wikipedia coverage in 10 language editions: Commons, German, English, French, Hebrew, Italian, Georgian, Albanian, Ukrainian, Chinese

## FAQs
### Q: What does the George Eliava Institute research?
The institute specializes in bacteriophage therapy, microbiology, and virology. As a dedicated research institute, its primary purpose is conducting systematic investigation in these fields rather than teaching or commercial activities.

### Q: Who founded the George Eliava Institute?
The institute was founded by George Eliava in 1916. The institute bears his name and continues to operate as a research organization in Tbilisi, Georgia.

### Q: What is the official name of the institute?
The full official name is the George Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology and Virology. It is also referred to as the Giorgi Eliava Institute, Tbilisi Institute, and Institut de George Eliava in different contexts and languages.

### Q: How is the institute identified in academic and research databases?
The institute maintains multiple persistent identifiers across research databases including ISNI (0000000460231927), ROR ID (00d9pfn36), GRID ID (grid.428904.3), KISTI ID (K000212459), and UK Parliament Thesaurus ID (513879).

## Why It Matters
The George Eliava Institute represents a specialized institution dedicated to phage therapy—a field that uses bacteriophages (viruses that target bacteria) to treat bacterial infections. As antibiotic resistance becomes an increasingly critical global health challenge, phage therapy research offers potential alternative treatment pathways. The institute's century-long existence since 1916 demonstrates sustained institutional commitment to this specialized field.

Unlike universities that balance teaching and research missions, the George Eliava Institute exists purely to conduct research. This focused organizational structure allows researchers to pursue long-term, specialized investigation without the divided attention that characterizes hybrid institutions. The institute operates as a standalone research entity rather than as a sub-unit within a larger organization.

## Notable For
- Dedicated research institute focused exclusively on phage therapy, microbiology, and virology
- Founded in 1916, representing over a century of specialized research activity
- Named after its founder George Eliava
- Recognized in the UK Parliament Thesaurus under ID 513879
- International presence with Wikipedia articles in 10 languages including Georgian, Ukrainian, Chinese, Hebrew, and major European languages
- Classified as a distinct research organization (not a university department or commercial entity)

## Body

### Founding and History
The George Eliava Institute was founded in 1916 by George Eliava. The institute has operated continuously since its inception, maintaining its focus on bacteriophage research, microbiology, and virology throughout its history. The institution carries its founder's name and remains located in Tbilisi, Georgia.

### Location and Facilities
The institute is situated in Tbilisi, Georgia, at geographic coordinates 41.73408333° latitude and 44.772° longitude. This location places it in the capital city of Georgia, positioning the institute within the country's primary urban and academic center.

### Organizational Classification
The George Eliava Institute is classified as a research institute—an organization whose primary purpose is to conduct research. This classification distinguishes it from universities (which combine teaching and research), scientific societies (which are membership organizations), think tanks (which focus on policy research), and commercial research entities. As a standalone research institute, it exists specifically to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation in its specialized fields.

### Names and Aliases
The institute operates under several names across different contexts and languages:
- **Primary name:** George Eliava Institute
- **Official full name:** George Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology and Virology
- **Giorgi Eliava Institute** (Georgian variant)
- **Tbilisi Institute** (geographic reference)
- **Institut de George Eliava** (French designation)

### Research Identifiers and Database Registrations
The institute maintains registration across multiple academic and research identification systems:

| System | Identifier |
|--------|------------|
| ISNI | 0000000460231927 |
| ROR ID | 00d9pfn36 |
| GRID ID | grid.428904.3 |
| KISTI ID | K000212459 |
| UK Parliament Thesaurus | 513879 |
| Freebase | /m/09lnpy |

These identifiers enable consistent citation and tracking of the institute across scholarly databases, government systems, and knowledge graphs.

### International Recognition and Documentation
The institute maintains presence across multiple Wikipedia language editions, indicating international recognition of its significance. Wikipedia coverage exists in 10 languages: Commons (for media files), German (de), English (en), French (fr), Hebrew (he), Italian (it), Georgian (ka), Albanian (sq), Ukrainian (uk), and Chinese (zh). This multilingual documentation spans Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, reflecting the institute's relevance across diverse cultural and linguistic contexts.

The institute also maintains a category on Wikimedia Commons for media files and visual documentation related to its facilities, history, and research activities.

### Online Presence
The institute maintains an official website at http://www.eliava-institute.org, providing public access to information about its research activities, organizational structure, and contact details.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. GRID Release 2015-12-14
3. GRID Release 2016-12-06