Two-day international conference of SAAE begins at AMU
ALIGARH : The two-day International Annual Conference on “Alternatives to Animal Experiments” and the 6th Annual Meeting of the Society for Alternatives to Animal Experiments-India (SAAE-India), organized in collaboration with the Department of Pharmacology, J.N. Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University today began at the J.N. Medical College Auditorium, with the AMU Vice Chancellor, Prof Mohammad Gulrez as the chief Guest.
In his address, Prof. Gulrez stressed the need for simulation exercises of animal experiments in-vitro and ex-vivo, while pointing out that the study of the pre-clinics l testing does not exactly match the same way in the next step clinical testing.
In his presidential remarks, Prof. Y.K. Gupta, President, SAAE-I and President, AIIMS, Jammu, highlighted the significance of the topic of the conference in Biomedical research. He said that the aim of the society is not to put on hold all the experiments on animals, but it puts premium on the rationalization of its use.
He acknowledged the role played by the Aligarh Muslim University as the epicentre of knowledge and cultural exchange.
Prof. M.A. Akbersha, the General Secretary, explained the concept of alternative subjects for experiments like in-vitro technology, 3D-cell culture, organ on a chip model, organoids, microphysiological system and how animal data today cannot be relied to perform clinical testing in humans.
Prof. Syed Ziaur Rehman, Chairman, Department of Pharmacology and the Organizing Secretary, stressed the need to sit together and discuss the idea to promote adoption of alternatives to animal experiments, 4R movement in India and the need for collaboration among universities to bring about newer alternative methods and their validation by the appropriate agency.
The Dean, Faculty of Medicine Prof. Veena Maheshwari also praised the idea and appreciated the objectives of the society for betterment of quality of research upkeeping the safety of animal lives.
Prof. Haris M. Khan, Prinicipal and CMS, J.N. Medical College informed that different departments of studies in the college now use expired or outdate human RBCs for research, thus saving animal lives.
Prof. Gopinath Packiriswamy, Head, Centre for Nanotechnololgy, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT, Roorkee was honoured with the Dipti M Kapoor Endowment Award and Lifetime Achievement award was given to Prof. Dr. K.C. Singhal, Former Chairman, Department of Pharmacology, J.N. Medical College, AMU.
Prof. Gulrez also released the souvenir of the conference, in presence of the editor, Dr Farhan Ahmad Khan and Co-editor Dr. Irfan Ahmad Khan.
Two panel discussions were held, following the inaugural session and later the delgates were taken for a visit to Ibn Sina Academy and the museum of medieval sciences.
Dr. Vibhu Pandey and Dr Abhijit Shridhar conducted the programme while Dr. Jameel Ahmad extended a vote of thanks.