In-depth symposium marks two decades of genetic research at
Sankara Nethralaya
Nothing
perhaps captures the spirit of learning and research at the Kamalnayan Bajaj
Institute for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, the research arm of Sankara
Nethralaya than the fact that research in genetics and molecular biology
towards finding causes and solutions to ocular issues began here in right
earnest 20 years ago, at a time when such genetic research especially in a non -
government body was most uncommon. Started as a Cytogenics Laboratory in 1993,
it evolved into a full fledged, State of the Art Genetics laboratory and was
named as the ONGC Genetics Department in recognition of the large funding made
by the Public Sector Undertaking.
The
research facility in deference to the wishes of its visionary founder Dr
SS.Badrinath decided to celebrate its 20th year of operation as a
day of knowledge sharing and learning and joined hands with the Sankara Nethralaya Academy
the academic arm of Sankara Nethralaya to fulfill its objective.
The research
institution and the academic arm of Sankara Nethralaya organized an in-depth one
day symposium titled ‘SN Genetics” 2013
– A symposium on Gene Counseling and Gene Testing” at the Sri V.D. Swami Auditorium,
Sankara Nethralaya main campus on 21st December 2013, with guest lectures on
the entire gamut of genetic research by experts from the field. Shri Sanjay
Wadhwani, Deputy General Manager and Head- Human Resource, ONGC, Chennai was
the Chief Guest of the occasion. The event generated a high degree of interest
among the student and teaching community with a high number of participants
registering for it from both categories. The in-depth nature and educational
value of the symposium can be gauged by the fact that “The Center for CME
Accreditation of the Tamil Nadu
Dr MGR Medical University”
awarded 10 Credit Points in Category – II to it.
Dr Rama
Rajaram, Advisor, Vision Research Foundation warmly welcomed the Chief guest of
the day, dignitaries and participants and gave an interesting recap of the
laboratory’s inception and evolving into a State of the Art Genetics laboratory
with qualified and dedicated personnel, its path breaking research in Stem
Cell, nano-biotechnology, collaborative molecular research, the good number of
Patents to its credit and the support it received from funding bodies like the ICMR,
DBT etc. Dr AJ. Pandian, Reader and Head of the Genetics laboratory started his
address with a warm note of thanks to the ONGC for its most generous donation
in aid of the Genetics laboratory; he thanked Dr SS.Badrinath for sowing the
seeds and inspiring the commemorative symposium and expressed that it would be
made as an annual event from next year.
Delivering
the Chief Guest’s address Shri Sanjay Wadhwani had a high word of praise for
Sankara Nethralaya’s community services and research; he lauded the institution
for being looked upon with respect and high esteem by society at large. Drawing
a parallel between Sankara Nethralaya’s pioneering research to find solutions
to ophthalmic issues and the research by his own organization the ONGC, to find
solutions to the nation’s increasing energy needs through exploring hydrocarbon
reserves, he underlined that it is only research that leads to new thought and
new direction and it is research which directly impacts the needs of the
community. He underlined that the ONGC was proud of its association with an
institution like the Sankara Nethralaya and its head Dr SS.Badrinath and happy
to be of service to society through this association and closed his address with
the observation that the institution had the good fortune of being nurtured by
Dr. SS.Badrinath and receives its direction from him which makes the learning experience
here most stimulating.
Thanking
the Chief guest Dr SS.Badrinath, Chairman Emeritus, Sankara Nethralaya,
recalled the major role of Shri Subir Raha, former Chairman & MD, ONGC in the
huge funding of Sankara Nethralaya’s research initiatives by the No-1 Public
Sector Undertaking in the country and bringing about the association between
the two institutions and the eye care camps conducted by Sankara Nethralaya in
the villages surrounding Karaikal where the ONGC is active, he expressed that
Sankara Nethralaya would only be too happy to reciprocate the generous gesture
of ONGC by conducting free eye camps in the places of its choice. Dr SS.Badrinath
highlighted the vital role of youth in moulding the future of the country and
reiterated his appeal made to them recently at the NDTV awarding ceremony at
the Rashtrapathi Bhavan, underlining his appeal with the poignant words of John
Kennedy “Ask not what the country can do for you but what you can do for your
country”.
The day
witnessed in-depth lectures by experts on the entire gamut of genetic study
including genetic disorders, genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis, role of
latest technology in genetics and molecular diagnosis, research on the role of
genes in diabetes mellitus and ocular disorders. The highly informative and
absorbing proceedings concluded with a detailed
description of the special tests in terms of toxic and trace elements
being carried out at the Sri Nathella Sampathu Clinical Laboratory at the
Sankara Nethralaya main campus and a special felicitation to the researchers
for the excellent work and their team members who played the role of internal
assessors for their dedicated support and commitment in going out of their
regular work to ensure the right documentation and quality control leading to
the laboratory winning the highly prestigious accreditation by the NABL
(National Accreditation Board for Laboratories) and renewal of the same for 4
times. Dr N. Soumitra, Lecturer at the ONGC Genetics and Molecular biology
delivered the Vote of Thanks after which the jubilant participants shared their
feedback and collected their participation certificates.
The
Founder of Sankara Nethralaya Dr SS.Badrinath had a special word of praise for
Shri A. Mahalingam, Assistant Registrar, Sankara Nethralaya
Academy for his role in
developing the academy and organizing the symposium and Social Worker Shri
Arokiaswamy for his tireless role and unstinted support in creating awareness
on Sankara Nethralaya’s activities.
