Press Releases
Drug discovery is the biggest challenge
Ranchi, Nov 19: An international symposium on “Advances in Cancer Research: Drug Discovery to Delivery” was held at the Central University of Jharkhand in collaboration with Carcinogenesis foundation, USA today.
Chief guest on the inaugural session Prof B Ravindran, Director, ILS, Bhubaneswar said in the past one decade the a tremendous development has been witnessed in the country in terms of education and scientific sector adding the government’s initiative to set up more and more universities was very commendable.
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Referring to disease related to oncology and other major ailment, he said the drug discovery is the biggest challenge for it involves huge cost.
He said there is no easy solution to drug discovery and hoped that policy would be formulated considering subsidy in this sector.
Dr Gopala Kovvali, editor-in-chief of Journal of Carcinogenesis and Adjunct Prof, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Texas, USA sent his recorded speech in which he too echoed Prof Ravindran.
Prof Kovvali said drug development is a smart process and made an exhaustive details of process of drug discovery, time duration involved in the process besides its cost and marketing viability.
He said some new drugs for cancer were approved during 2004 and 2007 adding more research still needed.
Vice Chancellor Prof Darlando T Khathing made a brief account of the CUJ and the courses being offered at present and assured he would provide all possible infrastructures for research activities in thecampus.
He hoped the deliberation that emerged at the symposium would come a great way in erasing many doubts and contribute a lot to the scientific world.
Dr Thomas Schwaab, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Urology, Rowell Park Cancer Institute, USA, Dr Jamboor K Vishwanatha, Dean Graduate School Of Bio Medical sciences and Director, Texas Centre for Health Disparities, University of North Texas Health Scie3nces Centre, USA, Dr Sai Yendamuri, Associate professor, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic Science Research Laboratory, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, USA, were present on the occasion.
In his welcome speech, Dean Centre for Life Sciences, CUJ Prof A N Mishra said cancer is one of major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and is the leading cause of death especially in developing countries including India.
The people of tribal dominated state Jharkhand are highly affected by various forms of cancer. Despite enormous advancements in medicine and modern biology, the poor survival rate and patient prognosis have not improved in several decades, indicating the failure of ongoing therapeutic strategies and the importance of finding new drugs for cancer patients.
He hoped that at the symposium distinguished scientists and budding researchers would discuss and deliberate on the emerging trends and future prospects in basic and applied cancer research.
The one day special International Symposium focused on various important topics like overview of oncology drug development, micro RNA biology, developing cancer vaccines, animal models and drug delivery using nanotechnology.
Oral and poster presentations were made.
Organising secretary Dr R K Mishra said all the selected abstracts would be published and awards would be given for best poster and oral presentation.