Knowledge exchange: ‘Scientific gatherings to help in research’

SZABIST Bio-Sciences department holds seminars on ‘Advanced Bio-analytical Techniques in Omics’.

KARACHI:

Scientific gatherings are imperative to create and enhance knowledge, share and exchange ideas, and strengthen skills to advance and excel in the field of scientific research.

This was said by Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (Szabist) president Dr Saqib Rizavi in his welcome address during a series of seminars organised by the institute’s biosciences department.

The seminars were held on ‘Advanced Bio-analytical Techniques in Omics’ on September 4, 2013. Speakers at the seminar included Karachi University’s International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences associate professor and eminent scientist Dr M Kamran Azim, Aga Khan University’s Department of Paediatrics and Child Health senior research associate Furqan Kabir, Szabist’s Biosciences Department assistant professor Dr Kashif Ali and Dr Uzma Nasib.

After the welcome address, Dr Ali gave a brief introduction about the establishment of the stem cell research centre and the biosciences department at Szabist. He spoke about metabolomics, which can be used in gene identification, drug discovery and systems biology. Dr Azim educated the students of biosciences about the elements of bioinformatics and its application. Likewise, Kabir told the students about the latest technology - Taqman Array Cards Assay (TAC) - which is now available in Pakistan. He said that this technology helped diagnose many diseases and was available only with the AKU in the entire Asia.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th, 2013.