|
Research Update
India has the research, technology and cost advantage to lead in gene therapy
Our News Bureau - Mumbai
 A
three day International Cell and Gene Therapy conference took place from 16th-18th
November in Mumbai. Around 40 foreign speakers, scientists working on gene therapy
at leading universities of the world, shared their experiences and achievements
in the field with Indian scientists at the conference. Work in gene therapy
encompasses stem cell research, delivery of new genes in to the body so the
system can make corrections or creation of new organs and the like. Gene therapy
will change the way dreaded ailments like cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular complications,
etc. are cured. Many Indian scientists working with leading universities participated
in the conference. "India has established its credentials in chemistry
research, biotech is progressing well and I feel India will become a hub for
gene therapy as well," opined Dr Farzin Farzaneh, President, International
Society of Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCGT), at the inauguration of the conference.
 Speaking
about the objective of the conference, Farzaneh said, "Through this conference,
we aim to foster collaboration between scientists and clinicians and provide
a platform for research collaboration with industry and knowledge sharing. The
conference is a platform for promoting latest developments and research in the
areas of cell and gene therapy." Speaking about the advancements in gene
therapy, Sanjeev Saxena, Chairman and CEO, Actis Biologics, a company engaged
in gene therapy research said, "Nanotechnology or gene therapy may today
sound sci-fi like the thought of prevention or treatment of smallpox or polio
would have, to people in the last century. But science has progressed and we
will see all the current research in gene therapy becoming a reality soon and
India will be hopefully in the lead." UK based ISCGT were the organisers
of the conference. ISCGT's principal goal is to foster camaraderie and collaboration
between scientists and clinicians around the globe, in their quest for cell
and gene therapy.
|
