The Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Eastern Hill University, Shillong is organising a week-long Department of Science and Technology (DST), Delhi sponsored Synergistic Training on Utilising the Scientific and Technological Infrastructure (STUTI) from February 6 to 12.
The event is being organised in collaboration with the Jamia Hamdard University, Delhi, Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facility (SAIF), NEHU and the Society for Neurochemistry India (SNCI), India. The theme of the event is “Innovations in Healthcare Technologies”.
The workshop was inaugurated by the Vice Chancellor I/c, NEHU Prof. D K Nayak who requested the participants to make full use of the opportunity presented and try to enhance their skills so that it could be transformed to societal outcome and benefit the end consumers.
Participants from all parts of the country are attending the workshop. The aim of the week-long workshop is to provide participants with extensive knowledge with regards to the recent advancements in the development of healthcare technologies and how to translate research from laboratory to market or bench to bedside to make it customised and affordable.
The key features of the workshop lay emphasis on open scientific discussion with experts from academia, research organisations and industry, providing hands-on laboratory training sessions with presentation of the participants through symposia and group meetings and direct interactions with experts from the industry.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Iftekhar Hussain, Dean, SoT, NEHU apprised participants about the role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in healthcare. He emphasised how they are changing the landscape in development of smart low cost medical devices in healthcare which could revolutionise the field of healthcare.
Prof. Suhel Pervez, Coordinator DST PMU, Jamia Hamdard University, Delhi, apprised the participants about the role of STUTI programme being funded by the Department of Science and Technology for capacity building and enhancing the availability of manpower resources in the country. He informed participants that more than 22 STUTI programmes have been organised by his team in all parts of the country with NEHU being the only institute in the North-East region of the country.
Prof. Prakash Babu, Secretary General, SNCI from University of Hyderabad, stressed on the activities of the SNCI since the early 1970s and how it has evolved to develop scientific temper in the field of neuroscience in the country and its role in grooming the budding scientists and researchers from all parts of the country over the years since its inception. He informed the august gathering as to how they could seek benefits by joining the society and enhance their career objectives.
Prof. B Panda, Honorary Director, NERC-ICSSR, NEHU, emphasised on the economic aspects which are required to be understood while carrying out development and design of healthcare technologies by evaluating costs versus benefits for the society at large.
Prof. Prasenjit Biswas, Director, Office of International Affairs, NEHU enlightened the participants about the activities being carried out by the Office of International Affairs at NEHU and the role of Bioethics, neuroscience in understanding the varied types of neurological disorders affecting the society which are not properly reported.
Dr. Dinesh Bhatia, Coordinator, DST STUTI, NEHU, enlightened the participants about the objectives of the week long course and how it would be beneficial for the participants. He profusely thanked all those involved in organising the event including the press and media for giving widespread coverage.
