DUHS sends scientists to Bangkok for Training in Bio Safety

Karachi: Three members team of scientists from Molecular Pathology Department, Dow University of Health Sciences received international training on biosafety, recently organized in Bangkok, Thailand

According to the vision of honorable Vice Chancellor - Professor Masood Hameed Khan, the Department of Molecular Pathology, Dow University of Health Sciences has been successfully providing high quality Molecular Diagnostic services at very low cost. This department led by Dr. Saeed Khan, is also actively involved in quality research along with diagnostics. The department not only organizes research related workshops but also ensures its participation in local as well as international workshops which have immensely contributed towards maintaining and even further, improving their standard and service delivery.

Likewise, taking their legacy forward, the team of Molecular Pathology under the supervision of Dr. Saeed Khan, attended the 9th Annual Asia Pacific Biosafety Association Conference and training workshop, titled as ‘Biosafety and Biosecurity Collective Partnership towards One World One Health’, that took place in Bangkok, Thailand. Dr Saeed along with two of his students Maria Zahid, and Fatin Zehra received a full travel grant to participate in this prestigious conference and training workshop.

First day of the session started with an impressive inaugural ceremony that not only comprised of welcoming note by the organizers who highlighted the importance of biosafety and related safety procedures and their strict regulations in the laboratory. The traditional Thai dance was also a beautiful addition to the ceremony and showed different cultural aspects of various regions of Thailand. 

The second day comprised of pre-conference lectures in which the participants were given information and guidelines regarding the upcoming workshops and the topics they would be learning. Poster presentations also took place on the second day, in which the participants presented their research through impressive posters and then were awarded with the best poster prize award accordingly.

Third and fourth days were packed with very informative workshops covering various important topics such as; BSL, ABSL-3 High Containment Facility Design and Containment Principles, Working Safely with Tuberculosis, The Global Biotech Revolution – ‘Preserving the good of powerful science in a dangerous world’ Biorisk Assessment in Laboratory Emergency and Animal, Staff, and Operational Needs in a Biocontainment Animal Research Facility.

The workshops elucidated upon several practical and application aspects in these areas. Participants were given presentations and were explained in detail, how to apply and follow the given information and knowledge in their respective labs. Attendees also asked several questions related to the daily problems or hindrances that they face in their lab regarding biosafety, and its regulation in their lab and country.

Overall it was a successful trip and provided vital information and knowledge regarding biosafety, healthcare and related aspects that could be applied in all the laboratories to ensure the safety of all the workers, employees and researchers particularly in the background of Ebola, Congo virus and other biological threats this biosafety training was very important. It is a matter of pride for DUHS as well that its faculty members and students were able to make their mark on such a distinguished and respectable forum.