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Internal Capacity Building
Barcelona, Spain, London, Belfast, UK, July 8-21
Dr. VR. Muthukkaruppan, Aravind Medical Research Foundation has under taken a trip to Europe to attend the conference organised by the International Society for Stem Cell Research on July 8-11 in Barcelona, Spain and to visit the laboratories on eye research in Modena, Italy(July 13-15), London (July 16-18) and Belfast, UK (July 19-21).
He presented a paper on “Adult Human Buccal Epithelial Stem Cells: Identification, Ex-Vivo Expansion and Transplantation for Corneal Surface Reconstruction”. The conference provided him an opportunity to learn about the latest developments on embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells. The plenary lectures on adult stem cells would be useful for our research programme at Aravind Medical Research foundation.
Dr.VR.Muthukkaruppan visited the Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena, Italy and discussed with Dr.Graziella Pellegrini, Professor of Cell Biology about the establishment of GMP facility to manufacture epithelial stem cells for ocular surface reconstruction, with reference to infrastructure, GMP protocols, reagents, plastic wares, quality control, transport of biopsy and cultured epithelium, viral and bacterial status before and after culture and maintenance of records. It is proposed to enter an agreement with University of Modena for collaboration between AMRF and Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena.
He also visited the Institute of Ophthalmology, University college of London which was useful to discuss with Dr.Julie Daniels, Head, Cells for sight Transplantation and Research Programme on the various aspects of their GMP facility and ocular stem cell culture protocols. In addition Dr.Muthukkaruppan had discussion with Prof. Pete Coffey, Director, London Project to Cure Blindness on Stem cell therapy for AMD and trophic factors from RPE to slow down AMD, Dr.Glen Jeffery on histopathology of AMD using donor eyes, Dr.G.A.Limb on adult retinal stem cells and Dr.Tracy Llyod on Moorfield Eye bank.
Dr.VR.Muthukkaruppan visited the Centre for Vision and Vascular Science, Queen’s University, Belfast to meet Dr.Alan Stitt, Director of Research. The discussion on various aspects of mechanism of Diabetic Retinopathy and AMD with reference to
1) Importance of RPE and Muller cells in DR and AMD
2) Pathogenic role of advanced glycation end product in Diabetic Retinopathy and its inhibition as therapy
3) Revascularisation of ischemic retina – as therapy using endothelial progenitor cells.
He has also discussed with other members of the centre: Dr.T.M.Curtis on a novel biomarker for diagnosis of PDR, Dr.Colin Willough on genetics of POAG and Keratokonous, Dr.Jim Curry on proteomics and Raman Microspectrometer in serum of Retinitis Pigmentosa and Dr.Usha Chakravarthy on Avastin and Lucentis treatment of wet AMD.
Dr.VR.Muthukkaruppan also reviewed various experiments carried out by Ms.Murugeswari, our Ph.D research scholar working with Dr.Alan Stitt under Common Wealth Split-Site Programme. Additional experiments on Diabetic Retinopathy have been suggested to be carried out in consultation with Dr.Alan Stitt. Dr.Stitt has indicated his willingness to develop collaboration by signing MoU between AMRF and Queens’ University.
Dr.P.Sundaresan attended ARV0 2009 Annual meeting and Visited collaborative centers in USA and Germany
May 3-7, 2009
At ARVO 2009 annual meet (May 3-7, 2009) at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, he presented a poster on "Novel mutations of the transcription factor FOXL2 and functional effects in BPES patients" and he attended the INDO-US collaborative research workshop and presented two projects. They are
1. Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research (DRCR) Project
2. Identification of Biomarkers for Primary Open Angle Glaucoma
He met and discussed several eminent researchers and ophthalmologists during the meeting.
Dr. P.Sundaresan visited University of Pittsburgh, and presented at the Department of Ophthalmology a Lecture on "Molecular genetics on Congenital Hereditary Endothelial Dystrophy in Indian Population" He discussed with Dr. Shiva Swamynathan, on the corneal eye diseases in mouse and Human.
In addition, he visited Centers for Disease Control and prevention (CDC) Atlanta and given a guest lecture on "Molecular Genetics of Inherited Eye Diseases in Indian Population" to the faculties of Human Genome Epidemiology Network and interacted for future collaboration.
Recently Dr. P.Sundaresan, research proposal on Molecular Genetics of Albinism in Indian Population was selected by Department of Science and Technology, Government of India under INDO-GERMAN collaborative project with Dr. Markus Preising, University of Giessen, Germany. Dr. P.Sundaresan visited University of Giessen; met Dr. Markus and discussed the research plans for the approved project for next two years.
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