Research institutions urged to join hands for utilising online platform Staff Reporter

TIRUCHI: Advantages accruing to humanity from the networking of institutions involved in frontier research were articulated at the inaugural of an international conference on ‘Frontiers in biomedical sciences,’ at the Holy Cross College on Wednesday.

Organised by the PG and Research Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, the three-day event is designed to serve as a platform for interaction amongst scientists and research scholars in areas of medical biotechnology, biochemistry, microbiology, bioinformatics, and neurobiology, for arriving at products and processes for human and animal welfare.

Inaugurating the conference, Bharathidasan University Vice-Chancellor M. Ponnavaikko saw in the confluence of bio and nanotechnologies immense scope for progress in biomedical research and drug delivery system.

Citing promising advancements made in stem cell research for treating cancer, he said the university had embarked on stem cell research in association with the Japan-based Nichi-In Centre for Regenerative Medicine and KMC Hospitals.

Prof. Ponnavaikko invited research institutions to join hands for making the most of the online platform, on the lines of the trend prevalent in European countries to solve medical problems confronting humankind.

The Vice-Chancellor encouraged researchers to put to optimal use the high performance computing systems at the university’s Physics and Bioinformatics departments. The Mahatma Gandhi Doerenkamp Centre for Alternatives in Use of Animals in Life Science Education, with four lakh Euros funding from a Switzerland-based entity, would be launched at the university shortly. He handed over the first copy of the conference souvenir to College Secretary Rev. Sr. Maria Kamalam in the presence of Principal Rev. Sr. Sarguna; K.S. Krishnan, Professor, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore; and Organising Secretary P. Daisy.

In his keynote address, Prof. Krishnan observed that while there was no dearth of money or manpower for research, a lot of work needed to be done to bring about corresponding transition in the health scenario. He suggested that young researchers identify diseases prevailing in their surroundings and focus attention on finding solutions.

The conference has attracted over 200 participants from across the country. It will feature 20 invited lectures, 30 oral presentations and 50 poster presentations.