Animal research vital for drug development: Dr Iqbal

KARACHI: Prof Dr M. Iqbal Choudhary stated, "The significance of animal research in drug development cannot be ignored as it emphasises understanding the biology and genetics of living organisms."

Establishing a new National Facility for Laboratory Animal Research Center (NFLARC) in the Dr Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), University of Karachi facilitates nationwide researchers to conduct animal research-related experiments in the SPF environment. 

Prof Dr M. Iqbal Choudhary, Director of the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences and COMSTECH Coordinator General, stated this while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the "National Workshop on Techniques in Small Laboratory Animal Handling" held on Friday. 

Dr Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), University of Karachi, in association with the Sindh Innovation Research and Education Network (SIREN), organized the national workshop at its National Facility for Laboratory Animal Research and Care. 

More than 100 scholars representing 37 institutions from all over the country participated (combined online and physical) in the national workshop. 

Prof Dr M. Iqbal Choudhary said that using animals in research was vital for empowering researchers to develop new drugs and treatments. In addition, he maintained that using animals in the lab has dramatically improved scientists' understanding of human biology and health. 

Animal research is significant for drug development as it focuses on understanding the biology and genetics of living organisms. In biomedical studies, this type of analysis aims to understand disease aetiology and progression, he said 

NFLARC supports various research programs in Pharmacology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Molecular Medicines, Toxicology, etc., he said. 

The national workshop aims to provide practical training to students and researchers to build capacity in handling Small Laboratory Animals (SLA). In biomedical research, experiments on SLA are routinely conducted, which help researchers devise strategies for advancing human and animal health care, he maintained. 

Prof Dr M. Iqbal Choudhary remarked, "Attention to the principles of adequate animal husbandry and personnel training for appropriate experimental techniques is therefore important to achieve maximal benefit from laboratory animal use and assuring appropriate ethical conduct." 

Earlier, while presenting the welcome remarks, Dr Mudassar Azhar, the workshop coordinator, welcomed the participants in the national event and highlighted the aims and objectives of the national workshop.