'Molecular Haematology' workshop held

Punjab University Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics (MMG) organised a one-day workshop on "Molecular Haematology" in collaboration with Pakistan Society for Haematology, on Tuesday. Three types of lectures were delivered during the one-day workshop including Haemophilia, Thalassemia DNA isolation.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mujahid Kamran presided over the inaugural session. Speaking on the occasion, the vice-chancellor hoped that the workshop would be very useful for the students and research scholars of the department. He said that MMG department had been established by a very dynamic and hard working personality Dr Shahida Husnain, who is the chairperson of the department as well the Dean Faculty of Life Sciences.
Praising the faculty, he said in year 2009, PU produced a total 126 PhDs out of which 50 doctorate studies were completed in the Faculty of Life Sciences only. He said two-third faculty members of the life sciences were PhD degree holders and this was a good ratio.
Dr Kamran said that the job of the university administration was to support all kind of academic activities and the year 2010 started with mega activities including two-day international conference on Azad Sadi Seminar on Maulana Muhammad Hussain Azad, special discussion in connection with the birth anniversary of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and seminar on Indo-Pak relations.
He said PU administration was fully supporting all departments for the organisation of academic and research activities. Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Jamil Anwar in his speech praised MMG department for organising a workshop on such an important issue and urged other departments of the varsity to organise such academic activities. MMG Chairperson Professor Dr Shahida Husnain said that advancement in molecular biology leads to the noble technique of diagnosing genetic diseases including Haemophilia and Thalassemia.
She said that unfortunately, molecular biology had been less focused in the whole world despite of its extraordinary importance. Dr Nisar Ahmed of Children Hospital said that the main objective of the workshop was to train juniors and students in the field of Molecular Haematology.
He said that Pakistan Society for Haematology was expecting registration of some 25 students from PU but they were amazed that as many as 80 students showed their interest and registered themselves for this workshop. Later, practical activity was shown to the students in the laboratory. Major General Sohaib Ahmed, bio-researchers, students and other participants of the workshop were also present on the occasion.