The Indo-Japanese joint venture institute, Nichi-In Centre for Regenerative Medicine (NCRM) in Chennai will commence its 4th batch of the Training Program in Regenerative Medicine (PTRM) from September this year. Only scholars in the field of research in stem cells and regenerative medicines will be allowed to join the programme.

Sources in the Centre said TPRM includes a series of comprehensive webcasted lectures on stem cell research, gene therapy, organ failure, innovative technologies, knowledge translation and ethical issues in the field of regenerative medicine, from the University of Toronto to train the scholars selected for the academic program at the institute here.

The programme is conducted in association with four Canadian universities such as the University of Toronto, University of Ottawa, McMaster University and the University of Western Ontario. NCRM has now started accepting applications from scholars who wish to enrol in the 4th batch, sources said.

According to Dr Abraham Samuel, the managing director of the Institute, regenerative medicine is an evolving branch of medicine, which has great potential to provide new solutions and treatments to incurable diseases using research in stem cells and progenitor cells. While the field possesses such potential, it is imperative to recognize that scientists and researchers must follow all scientific, ethical and clinical parameters based on evidence to ensure safety and yield efficacy. Regenerative medicine is a unique branch of medicine with constant need for upgrading and interaction with health sciences and translational studies.

Through web-based training, he said, the TPRM provides a broad interdisciplinary platform to train future scientists and clinicians. At NCRM in Chennai, lectures are webcasted from the University of Toronto campus. The course has a series of 40 lectures given by internationally respected experts on topics such as, organ failures, sources of cells for probable treatment, gene therapy, tissue and biomedical engineering, ethical concerns in research, knowledge translation and future prospects in clinical application.

Enrolment is open until July 31. Students, scholars of PhD and teaching staff in the departments of life sciences, biotechnology, medicine, veterinary sciences, and dentistry can be the participants of the course.

Dr Abraham Samuel said the purpose of this initiative is to encourage a trans-disciplinary, integrative approach to health research through training a new generation of researchers, who are capable of combining various approaches in devising innovative solutions for the research and treatment of complex medical problems. Upon successful completion of the programme, full attendance of all lectures and adequate credits in the exams conducted, students will receive a certificate from the TPRM, he added.