Pakistan's first genetic molecular lab inaugurated

KARACHI:

Pakistan's first genetic molecular laboratory has been inaugurated with the cooperation of the Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America (APPNA), an organisation of Pakistani-origin doctors based in the United States.

The newly established lab, located on the campus of Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU), aims to diagnose physical and mental disabilities in premature babies and identify genetic defects in children and adults.

Leading personalities, including APPNA President Dr Asif Mohiuddin, General Secretary Dr Rizwan Naeem, Vice Chancellor of Jinnah Sindh Medical University Prof Amjad Siraj Memon, and Vice Chancellor of Dow University Prof Dr Saeed Qureshi attended the launch ceremony at the Karachi Press Club.

Dr Mohiuddin said that the new lab would be instrumental in detecting genetic disorders and potential diseases in babies. The facility would be particularly valuable for identifying conditions in premature infants and could also predict health issues that might arise in the future, he said while describing the lab as a "significant step" toward modernising medical diagnostics in Pakistan.

Prof Memon said that the laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, enabling the early detection of genetic defects. The lab will have the capability to determine a child's genetic makeup and even identify the gender by extracting fluid from the mother's womb.