Researchers should focus on stem cell research, nano-science: Dr. Kalam

The medical researchers of the country should focus on stem cell research and research of nano-science for more effective treatment of diseases related to cardiac disease, suggested Dr .A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the President of India. During his visit to the International Centre for Cardio Thoracic and Vascular Diseases at Parumala, Kerala, he said that the cardiac researchers should recognise the potential area of research of nano-science, which has already entered into diagnosis and treatment of diseases, particularly relating to brain cancer and heart. “It is predicted that nano-robots will carry diagnostic probe and treatment solutions. Finally the robots will get digested in the human system after curing the disease. Sometimes I feel that the world may declare the early phase of twenty-first century, as a century of nano-science research and technology leading to revolution in human life enrichment,” said Kalam in his speech at the centre. According to Kalam, the stem cell therapy is also found to be much useful in some rare cases of heart disease. Some experts explained that in some form of cardiac diseases, where conventional medical and surgical treatment were ineffective because of the affliction of the heart muscle, use of autologous bone marrow stem cells implantation into the diseased heart muscles were effective for improving the function of the heart muscle. Such kind of rare applications are expected to open new frontiers in the treatment of patients for regeneration of heart muscles, thereby giving new hope for the patients suffering from end stage heart disease. The President requested the participation of many medical institutions in the promising area of stem cell research. He said that the advancements in stents have resulted in the introduction of drug quoted stents, which hold a tremendous promise in the near future of coronary artery disease. “I understand that very soon we may have bio-degradable stents. The next generation stents may be nano-stents. If the heart blockage is severe, valve defect and death of cells in the heart due to less blood supply etc. surgical intervention will be necessary,” added Kalam. Research is essential for establishing the reasons for occurrence of heart ailments among Indians at a young age and also the reduced occurrence of the disease in rural areas. It is found that the occurrence of cardiovascular cases is 4% in rural area as against the 10% found in big cities in India, whereas the world statistics says that the incidence is only 3 to 4%. He suggested a comprehensive quality health care scheme, with a contribution of Rs. 5 per month from each citizen and a matching government contribution of about Rs. 5 to raise a consolidated health fund of Rs. 1 crore per month for a population of ten lakh in rural cluster. He commended that such a scheme would be extremely cost effective for providing quality healthcare to our rural population. This unique health insurance model will include an information communications technology assisted medical advisory system and health awareness education over and above quality medical and surgical treatment and services to all the people. He suggested that the units like International Centre for Cardio Thoracic and Vascular Diseases, should take up such schemes and research on the application of drug delivery system using nano-technology, simultaneously. The President has also inaugurated the International Symposium on Transnational Research: Apoptosis and Cancer, conducted by Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) at Thiruvananthapuram.