Symposium on “Molecular medicine and DNA based diagnostics”

The Department of Animal Sciences organized a symposium on “Molecular medicine and DNA based diagnostics” here at Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU). The main objective of the symposium was to introduce the students and the faculty with the recent developments in the active research areas of DNA based diagnostics and therapeutics. The theme of the symposium covered cutting edge research areas in hereditary and viral diseases impacting human health, common and hereditary diseases and novel molecular medicine based therapeutic approaches.

The resource persons for this symposium were: Dr. Muhammad Faiyaz-Ul-Haque, Head and Director Molecular Genetics Pathology Unit, King Saud University, Riyadh Saudi Arabia; Dr. Kehkashan Mazher, Principle Scientific Officer, KRL Hospital Islamabad, and Ms. Madiha Kanwal, Research Associate from Department of Animal Sciences, QAU. The resource persons presented fresh research data and gave a future glimpse of medical advancements and improved treatment options. They discussed latest frontiers in the PCR based diagnosis of various diseases, genetic targets of cancer therapy, and individualized and pre-symptomatic treatment.

QAU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Masoom Yasinzai, while addressing the inaugural session of the symposium said that such events are vital to broaden our understanding of disease pathogenecity and effective treatments. He lauded the efforts of the organizers for taking initiative of organizing such events. He thanked the resource persons for spearing time for this event. Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of multidisciplinary research in order to bring the benefits of laboratory research to the community.

There were four seminars in the symposium in which the speakers presented thoughtful lectures and demonstrations. The participants/students interacted with the resource persons throughout the sessions and also continued the discussions during the breaks. Due to the broad and far-reaching importance of this symposium’s theme, a number of students and researchers of Departments of Animal Sciences, Biochemistry and Pharmacy participated in the event.

In the concluding ceremony the organizer Dr. Sajid Malik thanked the resource persons and the participants. Dean Faculty of Biological Sciences, Prof. Dr. Asgari Bano, Chairman Department of Animal Sciences, Prof. Dr. Irfan Zia Qureshi and a number of faculty members also attended the symposium.