The eighth annual Symposium of Ranbaxy Science Foundation on "Recent Advances in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation" was organized at National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi yesterday to discuss the factors that influence the success of a bone marrow transplantation and recent developments in the area.

Prof. Mammen Chandy, Prof. of Medicine & Head, Department of Haematology, Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore; Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians as well as Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia; delivered the keynote address on "Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Current Status and Future Directions ". Prof Chandy is well known for his work in the area of stem cell transplantation.

The Symposium, coordinated by Prof. N.K. Mehra, Head, Department of Transplant Immunology and Immunogenetics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, was addressed by several experts from various centres across India. The Symposium highlighted the importance of stem cells in cancer cure, epidemiology of hematological cancers in India, molecular targets for their management, underlying immune mechanisms, cord blood transplantation, donor marrow registries, post transplant monitoring etc.

Dr M. G. K. Menon, renowned Indian Scientist and former Union Minister for Science and Technology, was the Chief Guest at the Ranbaxy Research Awards Presentation Ceremony organised by RSF at the end of the Symposium. Dr Menon gave away the awards to leading scientists for excellence in medical and pharmaceutical research.

The Ranbaxy Research Awards for year 2000 were given to:

* Dr. Ch. Mohan Rao in Basic Medical Sciences, for is outstanding contributions in the area of molecular chaperones, heat shock proteins and their role in health and disease

* Prof. Partha P. Majumdar in Applied Medical Research, for his outstanding contributions in the area of genetic architectures of various human disorders, including vitiligo, perlingual deafness and abdominal aortic aneurysm

* Dr. S.K. Bhattacharya in clinical research for his outstanding contributions in the area of determining the clinical profile of the disease caused by Vibrio cholerae O139

* Prof. Dipankar Chatterji in Basic Medical Sciences for his outstanding contributions in the area of basic molecular biology

* Dr. J.S.Yadav in Pharmaceutical Sciences for his outstanding contributions in the area of organic synthesis of complex molecules

* Prof. Gautam R. Desiraju for his outstanding contributions in the area of crystal engineering

Each award carries a citation, a trophy and a cash award of Rs 1 lakh.