The three-day conference on carbohydrates began on December 13 at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali in Punjab.

"Carbohydrates are central to a wide range of structure, recognition and signalling roles in nature, but their sequence cannot be read directly from gene sequence information. Regarding the challenges and opportunities for the conversion of biomass to biofuels as a general backdrop and biomedicine-analysis; synthesis; enzymes and technology plays a vital role", said, Prof. Robert A Field, a renowned carbohydrate chemist, Deptt. of biological chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK, while inaugurating the 22nd conference on "carbohydrates: Chemistry, Biology and Industrial Applications" being jointly hosted by NIPER and Association of Carbohydrate Chemists and Technologists (India) [ACCT(I)] at National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research, SAS Nagar-Punjab from Dec. 13-15, 2007.

Prof. P. Rama Rao, director of NIPER, in his welcome address said: "Carbohydrates regulate the cells and plays a crucial role in the construction of multicellular organs and organisms. Carbohydrates are also potential anti-cancer, antiviral, antibacterial, antihyperglycemic, antiadhesive and immunostimulatory agents." Apart from this, he added that this conference is a forum for networking of students, scientists and exchange their views to get scientific synergy.

In the presidential address, Dr P L Soni, president, ACCT (I) said that the conference would provide the platform to the scientific fraternity to come closer. Further, he said that the meeting would serve as a unique and important platform for bringing together scientists and technologists from academic fields as well as industries to share their research results and exchange ideas and views with students and fellow researchers of the field.