KARACHI: The 8th International Symposium-Cum-Training Course on Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, a four-day event organized by the Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, has concluded at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi.
The symposium highlighted the pressing need for increased awareness regarding healthy lifestyles and the detrimental effects of consuming substances such as Pan, betel nuts, and Gutka, which have been linked to adverse health outcomes. Additionally, it emphasized the importance of implementing screening programs for the early detection of breast and mouth cancer in countries like Pakistan.
Furthermore, the symposium called upon legislators at both the federal and provincial levels to classify cancer as a mandatory reportable event, similar to infectious diseases like Covid-19. It also advocated for the establishment of a rigorous surveillance program to monitor and contain highly infectious diseases, including the Congo virus and Ebola virus.
During the closing ceremony, Prof. Dr. Atta-ur Rahman, Professor Emeritus and former Federal Minister for Science and Technology, commended the ICCBS administration for organizing the informative symposium. He underscored the significance of high-quality open distance education and praised the ICCBS's Latif Ebrahim Jamal Science Information Center, which offers access to a wide range of courses from around the world without the need for registration or payment.
Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, the Coordinator General OIC-COMSTECH, and UNESCO CHAIR on Medicinal and Bio-Organic Natural Product Chemistry ICCBS, emphasized the importance of nurturing the country's students, acknowledging them as the nation's future.
Prof. Dr. Farzana Shaeen, Director of the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, expressed gratitude to the organizers, particularly Prof. Dr. Asmat Saleem, faculty, staff, students, and volunteers, for their integral role in the success of the international event. She hoped that the conference would prove meaningful for participants, particularly young scholars, and contribute to stronger research collaborations among scientists from diverse regions.
Foreign delegates, including Dr. Paul Denny from the UK, Dr. Xiao-Ping Wang from China, and Dr. Muriel Cuendent from Switzerland, emphasized the importance of collaboration on rare and neglected diseases. They concluded with the message, "Sit down together, Work together, and Cheaply make Orphan drugs together."
Praising the Dr. Panjwani Center for its excellence in molecular medicine research, foreign participants also expressed their appreciation for the warm hospitality extended by the people of Pakistan throughout the four-day symposium. In closing, Symposium Coordinator Prof. Asmat Salim delivered a vote of thanks.
