The Society for Biomaterials and Artificial Organs - India (SBAOI) will conduct its 15th national conference on January 21-22, 2005 at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Thiruvananthapuram.

The conference focuses on the theme 'Medical Devices and Biomaterials: Quality Assurance, Ethics and Regulatory Issues. Technical programmes cover invited talks, oral and poster presentations in all areas of biomedical and medical devices covering research, development, evaluation, commercialization, quality assurance, ethics and regulatory affairs. Professionals, policy makers, students and related industry leaders are attending the meet.

Sources said the SBAOI was formed in 1986 with the objective of cultivating an atmosphere for the growth of basic and technology oriented research in biomaterials and artificial organs and to bring professionals from various faculties together to improve the quality of their approach in future research.

So far 14 national conferences were organized by the society with the financial assistance of various overnment arms like the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Department of Science and Technology (DST), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and other private agencies.

In addition to the delegates from India, delegates from different parts of the world attended these conferences, especially from countries like USA, Germany, Netherlands, Turkey etc. SBAOI is also a member of the International Union of Societies for Biomaterial Sciences and Engineering (IUSBSE), informed the sources.