The SVIMS University, Tirupati, is holding an international satellite conference on biotechnology, Biotech 2003-Global Meet, on February 4. Dr G Subramanyam, Vice-Chancellor and Director of the University, told newsmen in Hyderabad that the Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics is organising the conference.

The objective of the satellite conference was to facilitate global collaboration, to enter into MoUs in research and development, joint ventures, academic exchanges in biotechnology, drugs and pharmaceuticals. This global meet will provide a common platform to all scientific professionals to meet each other, exchange views and find opportunities in various fields of biotechnology.

Dr. Subramanyam said that like Hyderabad, which was emerging as the biotechnology hub of India, Tirupati is also a strategic place for biotechnology research and development for both human and animal advanced studies.

SVIMS is a model Super Speciality Hospital of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams established in the year 1993. In 1995, it became a university. The main objective of the institution was to become a centre for excellence to provide medical care and research facilities of high order in the field of medical sciences in the existing specialities and also offering various super-speciality courses like DM and MCh in various fields.

SVIMS University was one among the three medical institutions accorded sanction of funds by WHO and ICMR to develop information technology- based medical applications. The other two institutions were the Sikkim University of Health Sciences, Gangtok, and the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram.

Dr. Subramanyam said Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam had visited the Institute in May 2002 and appreciated the developments taking place there in the treatment of patients and also in the field of research. He had assured the Institute necessary support to set up a Biotechnology and Bioinformatics centre, with special reference to stem cell research.

At the Biotech Invest-2003 being held in Hyderabad, the Institute had announced the establishment of the stem cell research centre at the university and a brochure was released by the Chief Minister. After the Hyderabad University, SVIMS was the only other university in the state doing stem cell research.

Dr. N K Ganguly, Director of ICMR, had visited the university in November last year and declared SVIMS as a Nodal Research Centre for Rheumatic Heart Disease and also asked the university authorities to submit a proposal to start a Lepto Spirosa Surveillance Centre, according to the Vice-Chancellor.