Events

Date: 27th September 2022.
Time: 10:30 AM to 2:45 PM (Pakistan Time)
Venue: COMSTECH Secretariat, 33-Constitution Avenue, G-5/2, Islamabad.

Speaker Profiles: Click Here.
Flyer: Click here

Current trends in Virology and Epidemiology:
It gives us an immense pleasure to invite you to the Seminar on ‘Current Trends in Virology and Epidemiology; Women’s Health”, to be held on September 27th, 2022, as a Hybrid Event.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection. In addition, cervical cancer is the most prevalent HPV-associated cancer, and some cancers of the reproductive organs and oropharynx (back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils) are also caused by HPV. Cancer often takes years, even decades, to develop after a person gets HPV. Many women do not know they have HPV, because it usually has no symptoms and usually goes away on its own.
Scientists and young researchers from all over the world are expected to participate in this international meeting. This seminar aims to strengthen capacities of OIC member states especially in the fields of emerging viruses, disease diagnosis, surveillance, epidemiology and prevention. The purpose of this event is to serve as a forum for enthusiastic virologists from all over the world to discuss scientific topics of mutual interest that had come from various parts of OIC members. We aim to bring together leading experts in the field of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) research from all around the world and especially OIC region for research for the common benefit of humanity during the symposium. The participants will have a chance to interact with the esteemed speakers in person.
Target Audience: The webinar is open to students, researchers, young scientists, and academicians from the OIC member states and other countries. A great opportunity to meet renowned international and national speakers in person!

Register at: https://forms.gle/yrsBq5dS2eyeUE1g7
Zoom link for participation will be shared with selected participants.
Focal Person Email: khazima@comstech.org ; maham.yamin@comstech.org

Prof. Dr. Syed Ejaz Ahmed
Professor of Math & Statistics
Dean, Faculty of Math & Science
Brock University, Canada

Date and Time: July 15, 2022, from 15:00-16:30 (Pakistan Standard Time)
Venue: COMSTECH Secretariat, Islamabad.

Overview:

The rapid growth in the size and scope of data sets in a variety of disciplines have naturally led to the usage of the term, Big Data. The analysis of such data is important in multiple research fields such as digital marketing, gene expression arrays, social network modeling, clinical, genetics and phenotypic data, bioinformatics, and personalized medicine, among others. In high-dimensional models where number of features is greater than observations, a host of penalized regularization strategies were introduced for simultaneous model selection and estimation. Evidently, underfitted models are subject to inherited bias, and the prediction based on a selected submodel maybe risky. For this reason, a high-dimensional post shrinkage strategy (HDSS) is proposed to improve the prediction performance of a submodel.  The HDSS is constructed by shrinking an overfitted model in the direction of an underfitted model. It is demonstrated that the proposed strategy performs uniformly better than the overfitted model strategy, and it improves the prediction accuracy of a given submodel. The relative performance of the HDSS is appraised by both simulation studies and the real data analysis. Several examples will be provided based on some statistical models.

Target Audience:

The webinar is open to students, researchers, young scientists, and academicians from the OIC member states, and other countries.

For Registration please visit:

1. For physical participation (Participants from Islamabad and Rawalpindi only: Accommodation will not be provided) register at the following link: https://forms.gle/GWg4HGNduQH5kehX6
2. For virtual participation register at the following link: https://forms.gle/i4XbYwEji6NEoTQm6
3. Read instructions in the application form carefully and submit a properly filled form.
4.  Selected candidates will be notified through email; hence, applicants are required to check their emails regularly.
5. Zoom link will be shared with the virtual participants via email.

Venue:

The workshop will be held at the COMSTECH Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan. The city with the backdrop of Margalla Hills and National Park was purpose-built as the capital of sixth largest globally and second most populous (in OIC) country Pakistan in the year 1966. Pakistan, according to the Forbes magazine, is a hidden treasure for tourists with rich cultural diversity, ancient history, diverse landscape, cuisines, modern cities, and locally produced items.

Profile of the Speaker can be accessed at: https://brocku.ca/mathematics-science/mathematics/directory/syed-ejaz-ahmed/#biography

Workshop Coordinators:

1. Muhammad Haris Akram
   Program Manager
   COMSTECH, Islamabad.
   Email: haris@comstech.org
   Phone: +92 51 9220681
2. Muhammad Haseeb Ahmad
   Program Officer
   COMSTECH, Islamabad.
   Email: Haseeb.ahmad@comstech.org
   Phone: +92 51 9220681

In collaboration with Pardis Technology Park, and ICCBS Technology Park and Technology Incubation Center.
Date: 7-8 September, 2022
Venue: COMSTECH Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan
Deadline for Applications: 31^st July, 2022

Introduction:
The first science park was established in 1970 by the University of Cambridge to facilitate the sharing of knowledge between the industry, academia and the government. Science parks play a key role in attracting talent to bring forward technological advancement and innovation. It is an effective medium to attract entrepreneurs in desirable science and tech industries by providing high quality working space with a chance to work in close collaboration with the industry.

At a Science and Technology Park, businesses, start-ups and entrepreneurs have access to purpose built office spaces, laboratories and meeting areas designed to facilitate research in growth in various fields of science and technology. These parks are managed by special professionals who stimulate and coordinate the flow of technology and knowledge among the universities, research and innovation institutions, market and so forth. These technology parks have proven to be the bridge between converting innovative ideas into commercial products and services. 

COMSTECH in collaboration with Pardis Technology Park, and ICCBS Technology Park and Technology Incubation Center is organizing an international training workshop on “Managing Science and Technology Parks”. This workshop will analyze the path of development of an idea into a commercial product along with discussing the different models of accelerators, incubation centers and technology parks. Furthermore, the workshop will focus specifically on training managers and personnel that run the technology parks.

Target Audience:
Managers/CEO of technology parks, managers from incubation parks, university based technology incubation centers, consultants, start-ups, ORIC incharge, Scientists, researchers, policy maker/government officials, and academicians from the OIC countries are encouraged to participate.

Key Contents:
The training workshop will cover the following topics over Two days:

• The growth of an idea and team: from idea to the end of incubation period.
• Product and market development, fundraising and commercialization.
• Accelerators: How to manage and support
• Case studies of different types of accelerators and their development plan in Iran, Turkey and Pakistan.
• Case study: Pardis Summit Event
• Pre-incubation & incubation; Graduation policies & post-incubation interaction
• Publication: Success stories documentation
• Different types of Tech parks (public/private)
• Assessment policies, financial, credit & investment services and marketing services in parks (national & international).
• Case study of Pardis Technology Park: Planning, funding, government policies and execution.

About the Resource Persons
The resources persons will consist of managers and heads of various world renowned technology parks who will deliver lectures on key areas of technology park management.

Travel & Local Hospitality:
COMSTECH will arrange local hospitality for selected participants from OIC member states. Participants are expected to get their travel funding from their parent organizations/country of origin.

Registration Process:
Step 1: For Physical Participation please register at:https://forms.gle/zZFHLEPgq14DkVhp8

Step 2: For Virtual participation please register at:https://forms.gle/4Pa1WHVXz6rLa1Q66

Step 2: Read instructions in the application form carefully and submit a properly filled form along with your CV. Foreign participants must submit a scanned copy of passport.

Step 3: Selected candidates will be notified through email; hence, applicants are required to check their emails.

Venue:
The workshop will be held at the COMSTECH Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan. The city with the backdrop of Margalla Hills and National Park was purpose-built as the capital of sixth largest globally and second most populous (in OIC) country Pakistan in the year 1966. Pakistan, according to the Forbes magazine, is a hidden treasure for tourists with rich cultural diversity, ancient history, diverse landscape, cuisines, modern cities, and locally produced items.

Technicial Focal Person

AminReza Khaleghian
DG for International affairs & PR
Pardis Technology Park- I.R.IRAN
Tel: +98 21 76 250 250 (Ext. 2130)
Mob: +98 912 358 45 77
Email: khaleghian@techpark.ir

Workshop Coordinators
Muhammad Haris Akram
Program Manager, COMSTECH
Tel: +92-51-9220681-3
Email: haris@comstech.org
Muhammad Haseeb Ahmad
Program Officer, COMSTECH
Tel: +92-51-9220681-3
Email: haseeb.ahmad@comstech.org

Date: 5^th July 2022
Time: 1500 hrs- 1600 hrs Pakistan Time
Delivered by:
Hon. Senator Walid Iqbal
A member of Pakistan Senate & Pakistan’s leading corporate lawyer

Profile of the Speaker:

Walid Iqbal, a member of Pakistan Senate, is one of Pakistan’s leading corporate lawyers, and has nearly two decades of teaching experience in the fields of Law and Economics. He entered legal practice in Pakistan in 1994, and became an Advocate of the High Courts of Pakistan in 1996. After earning his LL.M. from Harvard Law School (1996–97), he was admitted to practice in the State of New York in 1998 and to the Roll of Solicitors of England and Wales in 2004 (currently maintaining non-practicing status).

Between 1997 and 2004, Senator Walid Iqbal worked for two leading international law firms established in New York and London, and returned to Pakistan to re-start his practice here in January 2005. He is also a member of the Board of Governors of the Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Pakistan Movement Workers’ Trust. Apart from Harvard Law School, Senator Walid Iqbal has also been educated at Aitchison College Lahore (O-Levels and A-Levels), the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania (B.S. Economics), Pembroke College, Cambridge (M. Phil. in International Relations), and the Punjab University (LL.B.) (Gold Medalist).

Senator Walid Iqbal has been serving as an Adjunct Professor of Business Law and Corporate Governance at the Suleman Dawood School of Business of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) since 2006. Prior to that, he has taught Business Law at the MBA Program of Government College University, Lahore, in 2004 and 2005, has taught an undergraduate course in International Economics at Harvard University in 1997, and has served as a lecturer of Jurisprudence at the Punjab Law College, Lahore, from 1994 to 1996, as well as a lecturer of Business Law at the Punjab College of Business Administration, Lahore, in 1996. Senator Walid Iqbal belongs to a family of international renown in the fields of intellect, law, public welfare, judicial service, and social activism. He also regularly appears in international conferences, public talks, debates, and television talk shows.

He has several published papers to his credit on a variety of legal and non-legal topics, including Pakistan’s nuclear tests and the sanctions regime applicable thereto, Pakistan’s constitutional system, alternate dispute resolution, Islamic law and constitutional structure, Pakistan-Russia relations, and the life and teachings of Allama Muhammad Iqbal.

On 14 December 2018, Walid Iqbal took up elected office as a Member of the Pakistan Senate, the country’s Upper House of Parliament, as a representative of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf from the Punjab province, and served as the Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Defence from 2019 to 2021. He is currently serving as Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights and is also a member of the Senate Standing Committees on Defence, Foreign Affairs, Law and Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs.

Abstract
Allama Muhammad Iqbal (1877–1938) is known across the globe as a poet, philosopher and thinker. He is also described as a great leader of the Muslims of the Sub-continent, an exponent of Pan-Islamism, and a national reformer. But not many are aware that Iqbal had keen eye for all the contemporary disciplines and had a deep understanding of the scientific developments and philosophical debates of the twentieth century. Even though he had never been admitted to a university to study science, Iqbal was well-versed with the science of anatomy as well as the latest inventions in the fields of engineering and technology. Research on Iqbal’s life shows that books on science and engineering authored by the some of the most prominent scholars of his time remained under his study. Iqbal’s poetry and philosophical thoughts are, thus, not only a combination of the impact of modern scientific developments, but also contain impressive predictions on the basis of his study of modern science. Accordingly, this webinar intends to explore this relatively lesser-known aspect of Iqbal’s personality, and to highlight that he was the only poet of Urdu and Persian languages possessed with sound knowledge of science and technology.

Target Audience
The webinar is open to students, researchers, young scientists, policy makers and academicians from the OIC member states and other countries.

Register at : https://forms.gle/YBbHrFKspXz5gRy89

Zoom link for participation will be shared with selected participants.

Address: COMSTECH Secretariat, 33-Constitution Avenue, G-5/2, Islamabad 
Phone No. : 92 51 9220681-3
Email: Khazima@comstech.org ; maham.yamin@comstech.org ;comstech@comstech.org

(Hybrid event)

Commemorating the 80^th Birthday of
Legendary Scientist
Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, FRS
22^nd September, 2022, Karachi, Pakistan
Organized by:
International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) and COMSTECH Secretariat, Islamabad
at the:
International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), Karachi, Pakistan

INVITATION

It is a great pleasure to invite you to “International Symposium on Excellence in Science”, whichwill be held on 22^nd September 2022, at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan. The symposium is being organized to commemorate the 80^th birthday of one of the most distinguished natural product chemists of the world, Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, FRS.

The objective of celebrating this event on a mega level is to commemorate the personality and achievements of this legendary scientist of the developing world, who made phenomenal contributions in the S&T capacity building of Pakistan, and other developing countries.  This is indeed a tribute to the towering personality of Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, FRS and a token of appreciation to his unparalleled services.

I will look forward to welcoming you all at the ICCBS to join us with his colleagues, students and peers, who continue to cherish and benefit from his passion, his dedication to research and science, and his vast knowledge of the subject.

Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary
Mustafa (pubh) Prize Laureate, H.I., S.I., T.I.
Director, ICCBS / Coordinator General COMSTECH
Distinguished National Professor / UNESCO Chair

INTRODUCTION

Late Prof. Salimuzzaman Siddiqui FRS described Prof. Atta-ur- Rahman in the following words: “I have often referred to Prof. Atta-ur- Rahman as my greatest discovery and I am glad to say that his contributions in the field of natural product chemistry and his efforts in the development of H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry have proved me right —- His vision of science of the future will undoubtedly take the institute to still greater heights.” The contributions of Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman have also been greatly appreciated by many Nobel Laureates who have paid glowing tributes to his outstanding services to science. These are available at: https://atta-ur-rahman.com/nobel_laureates.php

Prof. Rahman was elected as Fellow Royal Society (London) in 2006 and signed the famous 360-year-old book of the Royal Society with a feather pen, once signed by Sir Issac Newton and Charles Darwin. Only 3 scientists from the Muslim world had previously received this honor in the last 360 years. He is the first scientist from the Muslim world to have won the prestigious UNESCO Science Prize (1999) in the 35-year-old history of the Prize. He was elected Honorary Life Fellow of Kings College, Cambridge University, UK, in 2007, a unique honor. Research Institutions have been established in his name in China (“Academician Professor Atta-ur-Rahman One Belt and One Road TCM Research Center” at the Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China), Malaysia (“Atta-ur-Rahman Institute for Natural Product Discovery (AuRIns)” University of Technology Mara, UiTM, Malaysia) and several institutions in Pakistan.

History rarely witnesses the emergence of personalities whose monumental achievements change the course of science, and higher education beyond the borders of their own countries. Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman FRS is one of such towering personalities whose contributions are multi-dimensional, and far-reaching. Since over half a century, he has advanced our understanding of natural products, bioorganic chemistry as well as NMR spectroscopy and inspired several generations of young scientists to choose these branches of chemical sciences for their future endeavors. His students came and joined him from all corners of the globe to learn natural product and medicinal chemistry. Thus, his enthusiasm for research and learning has spread far and wide.

His research journey began with the development of synthetic approaches to complex anti-tumor alkaloids. He discovered over a thousand natural products many of which proved to be novel with exciting biological properties. More than 1,108 publications, 83 international patents and over 161 books (9 authored, 152 edited) published by major international publishers, are evidence of his enormous contributions in the field of natural product chemistry. His work has been universally acclaimed, and he was awarded numerous honorary doctorate degrees by many top universities including the University of Cambridge.
The Austrian government honored Prof. Rahman with its highest civil award (“Grosse Goldene Ehrenzeischen am Bande”) (2007) in recognition of his eminent contributions in the field of science and technology. Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman also awarded with the most prestigious “International Science and Technology Cooperation Award of China” by President Xi Jinping in 2019. He is the most decorated scientist of Pakistan having won 4 Civil Awards (Nishan-i-Imtiaz, Hilal i-Imtiaz, Sitara i-Imtiaz, and Tamgha i-Imtiaz).

The contributions of Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman FRS go far beyond his achievements in the field of chemical sciences. His leadership as the Minister for Science and Technology, Information Technology and later as Founding Chairman Higher Education Commission completely transformed the landscape of higher education, science and technology of Pakistan during 2000-2008. This resulted in several universities in Pakistan were ranked among the top 400 universities of the world. COMSTECH (OIC Ministerial Committee on S & T) too was transformed to a dynamic institution during 1996-2012 when Prof. Rahman was Coordinator General. The establishment of the Pak Austrian Fachhochschule in Haripur Hazara is just one example of his illustrious career. This brief overview represents a small glimpse of his glittering career.

SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES

This important commemorating event will not only be a small token of thanks to a great scientist of the world who make notable contributions for the development of science and technology in Pakistan and in developing world but also provide an opportunity to discuss with him affairs and existing problems of S&T not only in Pakistan but globally, especially in the OIC world.

SYMPOSIUM CONTENT
The program will include a series of plenary, keynote lectures and discussion sessions related to the major scientific contributions of Professor Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman FRS, in science and his efforts and achievement for bringing revolutionary changes in the higher education sector landscape of Pakistan. The event also includes a plenary lecture of Professor Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman FRS with his recommendations including mechanism of actions to overcome education crisis in Pakistan.

Patron
Prof. Dr. Nasira Khatoon
Vice Chancellor, University of Karachi,
Karachi, Pakistan

Chief Organizer
Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary
Mustafa (pubh) Prize Laureat, H.I., S.I., T.I.
Director, ICCBS / Coordinator General COMSTECH
Distinguished National Professor / UNESCO Chair
E-mail: iqbal.choudhary@iccs.edu

For correspondence and further enquiries, kindly contact:
Prof. Dr. Sammer Yousuf

HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry,
ICCBS, University of Karachi
Email: dr.sammer.yousuf@gmail.com
Mr. Aftab H. Zaidi
Senior Director (HR & Admin),
COMSTECH Secretariat, Islamabad – Pakistan
Email: aftab.zaidi@comstech.org

For Rgistration:
Kindly follow the link:
https://bit.ly/3bdISOEIS
For physical participation short-listed candidates will be informed by 25th August, 2022

September 22 – 24, 2022, Karachi, Pakistan

Organized by
Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD),
International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS),
University of Karachi
The International Papillomavirus Society
and
COMSTECH Virology Lab. Alliance

INVITATION
It gives us an immense pleasure to invite you to the “International Satellite Symposium on Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Cervical Cancer”, to be held in Karachi, Pakistan, during September 22–24, 2022 as a Hybrid Event. Over 300 scientists and young researchers from 30 countries are expected to participate in this international meeting.

The co-organizer International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS) promotes the worldwide exchange of ideas, knowledge, and research materials among basic, clinical and public health research professionals concerned with human and animal papillomaviruses and their associated diseases. IPVS also strives to facilitate research, and to promote the translation of research results into new clinical applications and public health policies. IPVS serves as the organizational structure for the field of biomedical scientists, physicians and other health care providers engaged in all manner of papillomavirus research. The host institution Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD) (Karachi, Pakistan), on the other hand, is a prestigious academic research institution, engage in research and graduate training in the fields of genomics and molecular biology of neglected and prevalent diseases. PCMD is an integral part of the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), a UNESCO and OIC center of excellence.

Pakistan is a country of cultural diversity, natural beauty, and rich history. Pakistan has been endorsed as one of the top tourism destinations by travelers. The vitality and the magical spirit of warm and beautiful city of Karachi will be conducive for exchange of scientific knowledge between scientists in the field of cervical cancer and human papillomavirus research from all over the world. It is hoped that this meeting will yield a strong impact and rise awareness about HPV and cervical cancer in Pakistan and other developing countries.

On behalf of the organizing committee, we wish to extend to you all, a very warm welcome to Karachi in September 2022.

VENUE
The event will be held at the beautiful premises of the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) at the University of Karachi. The ICCBS is located at about 20-minute drive from the Jinnah International Airport, Karachi. Shopping malls, banks, post office, stores, restaurants, and airline offices are also located within short distances of the symposium venue. Evening bus shuttles will run during the event for the participants, staying on-campus, to take them to various shopping centers, and other attractions in the city.

SCOPE
The aim of the meeting is to bring together leading experts in the field of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) research from all around the world and forge global partnerships for research for the common benefit of humanity during the symposium. Following aspects of PV research will be covered:

• HPV-associated Cervical Cancer: Epidemiology, and Molecular Biology
• Incidence and Mortality of Cervical Cancer
• Screening tools for Cervical Cancer and its precursor lesions
• Prevention of Cervical Cancer by Vaccination against HPV

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

• It will serve as a platform for a large scale interactions and awareness about HPV and cervical cancer.
• This event will also expose Pakistani and developing countries researchers with the best of science in the important field of PV research.
• The event will provide a platform to exchange ideas, develop research linkages, and foster collaborations in the field of tumor virus research.

REGISTRATION
The registration fee of Rs. 6000 (local) and USD 250 (foreigner) includes entry to scientific lectures, poster sessions, industry symposia, full set of abstracts, a copy of the symposium program, daily lunches and refreshments (tea/coffee), symposium banquet, cultural/musical evening, welcome mixer and free transportation from hotels and guest houses to the venue of the symposium.
For registration, kindly visit the website: www.iccs.edu 
This symposium is partly sponsored by Hologic GmbH Germany, The Higher Education Commission Pakistan, Pakistan Academy of Sciences, and Pakistan Science Foundation.
Download, fill attached registration form and send to raheel@iccs.edu ; raheelhej@gmail.com (Download from here).
For Virtual Participation, Register at https://forms.gle/qzDCpwk8oGyhno1v8

TRAVEL
Karachi has an international airport, which provides connections to all major cities of the world. Many of the major airlines of the world have frequent flights to Karachi, since the city provides a major route linking with the Far East as well as with the Middle East, Europe, and North America. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is the national flag career.

CLIMATE
Karachi is usually sunny and warm in September with average day temperature of 35 ^°C and the night temperature falling to 25-28 ºC. Kindly bring summer clothing.

VISA
You are requested to apply for a visa online well before the symposium. Citizens of over 80 countries can also apply for on­line visa (https://visa.nadra.gov.pk/). Participants from countries with no Pakistani diplomatic mission should also write to the symposium office in Karachi at least two months in advance. A formal invitation letter would be required from the Secretary, Organizing Committee (Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary) for this purpose.

ACCOMMODATION
All plenary and invited speakers will be accommodated in the International Scholars Lodges of the ICCBS, which has excellent boarding and lodging facilities.

LANGUAGE
The official language of the conference will be English.

TRAVEL GRANTS
Limited number of travel grants will be provided to eligible participants from CAVL and CCOE (COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence)

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

CHAIRMAN
Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, FRS, N.I., H.I., S.I., T.I.
Patron-in-Chief ICCBS

ORGANIZING SECRETARIES
(a). Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, H.I., S.I., T.I.
Director ICCBS, Karachi, Pakistan

(b). Prof. Dr. Thomas Iftner
Director, Institute for Medical Virology and Epidemiology of Viral Diseases,
University of Tuebingen, Germany

MEETING COORDINATORS
Prof. Dr. Atia-tul-Wahab
Dr. Saba Farooq
Ms. Khazima Muazim

FOR CORRESPONDENCE
UAN: (+92 21) 111-222-292, Ext. 179
Tel: (+92 21) 99261745      Fax: (+92 21) 99261713
E-mail: raheel@iccs.edu; raheelhej@comstech
Website: www.iccbsconferences.com

PROGRAM

September 22 2022

0830-0900            Registration

0900-1030            Inaugural ceremony;

• Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Director, ICCBS
• Prof. Dr. Thomas Iftner, Director Medical Virology
• Dr. Holger Ziegeler, Consul General of Germany
• Prof. Dr. Suzanne Garland, President of the IPVS,
• Prof. Dr. Lawrence Banks Director General of ICGEB
• Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, FRS, Patron-in-Chief ICCBS
• Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, Minister of Health and Population Welfare Sindh

1030-1100            Press Conference

1100-1130            Tea Break

1130-1200            Felicitation Lecture by Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary (“80th Birthday Celebration of Legendary Scientist Prof. Dr. Atta ur Rahman FRS”)

1200-1300            Lecture of Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman FRS, ICCBS, Pakistan on “Changing Landscape of Science and Technology and Higher Education in Pakistan”

1300-1400            Lunch and Prayer Break

1400-1440            Plenary Lecture-1 “Introduction into Human Papillomaviruses,” Prof. Dr. Lawrence Banks, Director General of ICGEB, Italy (on-line)

1440-1520            Plenary Lecture-2 “Cervical cancer elimination plan: learnings from Australia” Prof. Dr. Suzanne Garland, Director, Centre Women’s Infectious Diseases Research, Australia

1520-1620          Industry Symposium-1: Hologic Total Solution-Cervical Cancer screening trends from self-sampling to AI-guided cytology

1620-1700            Industrial Stall/ Booth and Tea

1720-1930            Sight Seeing Visit

September 23 2022

0930-1010            Plenary Lecture-1 “Evidence-based prevention tools for Cervical Cancer” Prof. Dr. Patti Gravitt, Center for Global Health, National Cancer Institute (NCI), USA

1010-1050          Plenary Lecture-2 virtual ” Estimates of the burden of cervical cancer in Pakistan/Middle West Asia “ Prof. Dr. Laia Bruni, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), Spain ICO, (on-line)

1050-1120          Tea break

1120-1150          Invited Lecture-1 “HPV Testing as secondary prophylaxis against cervical cancer,” Prof. Dr. Thomas Iftner, UKT, Germany

1150-1230          Invited Lecture-2 “HPV Screening in Low-Income Settings” Prof. Dr. Silvia de Sanjose, National Cancer Institute (NCI), USA. (on-line)

1230-1300          Invited Lecture-3 “HPV testing and its importance in cervical cancer and prevention

A neglected test in routine diagnosis,” Prof. Dr. Saeed Khan, DUHS

1300-1400          Lunch and Prayer break

1400-1500          Industry Symposium 2

1500-1530          Invited Lecture-3 “Integrating HPV Testing in Cervical Cancer Screening in Africa” NN Africa”

1530-1600          Introduction into the e-learning modules from the IPVS, Prof. Dr. Xavier Bosch/ Prof. Dr. Deborah Moreno, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), Spain.

(on-line)

1600-1700          Poster Presentations 

1700-1800          Visit to the ICCBS Labs

1900-2100          Cultural Evening/Gala Dinner

September 24, 2022

0930-1010          Plenary Lecture-1 Virtual “The Cervical Cancer prevention program in Malaysia” Prof. Dr. Ying Lin WOO, Asia-Oceania Research Organization in Genital Infection and Neoplasia (AOGIN), Malaysia. (on-line)

1010-1040          Invited Lecture-1 “HPV Screening: Current State of Art and Turkish Mega HPV Lab” Prof. Dr.  Murat Gultekin, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Turkey

1040-1200          Round Table Discussion on “How to implement Cervical Cancer Screening in Pakistan”

1200-1300          Closing Session, Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary and Prof. Dr. Thomas Iftner

1300-1400          Lunch and Prayer Break

1400-1800          Through interactive parallel workshops with Medical Doctors/Primary Women Care takers, Health Care Workers, Midwives, Nurses, Stakeholders and Delegates of the Conference to exchange information and to discuss obstacles for the implementation of an integrated approach using HPV vaccination and Cervical Cancer Screening. The objective is to investigate the feasibility of a multidisciplinary HPV `self-collect, test and treat’ intervention in partnership with community and district level stakeholders.

By
Dr. Zubair Khalid
Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering
Director, Smart Data, Systems and Applications Lab
School of Science and Engineering
Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Pakistan.

Date and Time: July 5, 2022 from 12:00-13:30 (Pakistan Standard Time)

Abstract:

The increased influx of the population from rural to urban areas in the developing world poses major economic, social, and environmental challenges. These challenges necessitate the development of policies and plans so as to improve urban infrastructure and basic services. One of The United Nation’s 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs), Goal 11: Sustainable, Green and Resilient Cities, – outlines the defining constructs of an emerging urban planning paradigm. With gaining global traction, the paradigm focuses on utilizing technological revolutions for innovations in urban design that will help and catalyze lifestyle changes.

In this webinar, Dr. Zubair will provide an overview of the use of technological innovations in data gathering, data analytics, data-driven decision making and policy design to address complex problems in three important and intertwined areas of an urban system that need to be tackled for sustainable development: (a) urban sprawl, (b) urban mobility, and (c) urban environment and health. The proliferation of mobile and electronic devices, the availability of publicly available sensing modalities, as well as the increasing digitalization of processes has enabled the generation of unprecedented amounts of data. This, coupled with unprecedented progress in computational power, provides us an opportunity to use artificial intelligence and machine learning methods for data-aided analysis, discovery, and decision-making to address the complex issues surrounding urban systems. We will provide an overview of our pilot projects in the aforementioned areas to establish a mesh of physical, social, and economic connections in the urban systems. In our approach, we feed the data, collected from a wide variety of modalities (such as remote satellite measurements, surveys, socio-economic indicators, on-ground sensing networks such as video feeds etc.), into cutting-edge machine learning techniques to model these connections and to derive useful insights for informed decision making, and to conceptualize a policy cycle for attaining public value.

Target Audience:

The webinar is open to students, researchers, young scientists, and academicians from the OIC member states, and other countries.

For Registration please visit: https://forms.gle/7BVKAhe3z47ZL5Xb6

Procedure to Join:  Zoom link will be shared with selected participants via email.

Profile of Speaker:

Dr. Zubair Khalid is an Associate Professor in the Electrical Engineering Department, School of Science and Engineering, Lahore University of Management Sciences. He received Ph.D. degree from the Australian National University funded by the prestigious Endeavour Scholarship. He received his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Engineering and Technology Lahore, Pakistan, where he was awarded three University Gold medals and two Industry Gold medals (Siemens and Nespak). He is also a recipient of Vice Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence Award 2021.

His research interests include the use of machine learning, data processing, computer vision, natural language processing and the development of novel information processing techniques in these areas for applications in cosmology, medical imaging, acoustics, speech processing and data-driven urban development. He has supervised 7 Ph.D. students and a large number of research projects both at the graduate and undergraduate levels. He has over 75 publications to date in refereed international journals and conferences.

He is a senior member of IEEE and is serving on the Editorial Board as an Associate Editor for the IEEE Signal Processing Letters. More details regarding his academic profile and his lab are available at www.zubairkhalid.org and http://sdsa.lums.edu.pk/  

Webinar Coordinator:

Muhammad Haseeb Ahmad
Program Officer
COMSTECH, Islamabad.
Email: Haseeb.ahmad@comstech.org
Phone: +92 51 9220681

Jointly organized by
Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research,
Royan Institute,
COMSTECH,
Mustafa(pbuh) Science and Technology Foundation
and
Sindh Innovation, Research, and Education Network (SIREN)

Introduction:
Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, in collaboration with Sindh Innovation, Research, and Education Network (SIREN) and COMSTECH regularly organizes popular lectures on the topics of general interest and need.
PCMD-Royan Institute Webinar Series (Hybrid) is being jointly organized by Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, Royan Institute, Iran, COMSTECH, MSTF, and SIREN. The webinar series is based on the current topics of Biomedical Sciences. The series will provide basic as well as advanced knowledge, skills and academic connections and expert opinions from renowned researchers of both institutes.

PCMD:
The Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD) is a constituent center of the International Center for Chemical and Biological Science (ICCBS). The main objective of the Center is to is to develop an understanding regarding common diseases in Pakistan in order to develop effective diagnostic tools and affordable treatments by using molecular medicinal, chemical and computational methods and to train highly qualified manpower in the emerging new fields of molecular medicine and drug development.

Royan Institute:
The Royan Institute is an Iranian clinical, research and educational institute dedicated to biomedical, translational and clinical researches, stem cell research and infertility treatment. It is a public non-profitable organization affiliated to Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research. It was established in 1991 by the late Dr. Saeid Kazemi Ashtiani as a research institute for Reproductive Biomedicine and infertility treatments. In 1998 this institute was approved by Ministry of Health as Cell Based Research Center with over 46 scientific members and 186 lab technicians.

Third Webinar:
The third webinar of series is entitled:
“Genomic Characterization of Neuromuscular Disorders in Pakistan”

Who Should Attend?
All undergraduate and graduate students as well as scientists and researchers working in the fields of molecular biomedicine, stem cells and regenerative medicine, tissue engineering and other biomedical disciplines.

Speaker’s Profile:
Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan is working as an Associate Professor at the Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, ICCBS in the field of genomics. He obtained his Ph.D. from the H. E. J. Research Institute of Chemistry, ICCBS, University of Karachi, and post-doctoral training from the Beijing Genomics Institute, Shenzhen China, and the Sanger Wellcome Institute, Cambridge where he worked under the supervision of Prof. Chris Tylor Smith. His research group is working on microbial, viral, and human disease genomics using the latest next-generation DNA sequencing technologies and bioinformatics tools. During the current pandemic, his research group carried out genomic surveillance studies on SARS-CoV-2 and contributed to informed decision-making at the national level. Furthermore, his group is working on rare genetic diseases of neuromuscular nature and early age blood disorders. He has won several national and international research grants and has published 36 research papers in journals of international repute. He is also the in-charge of Sindh Forensic DNA and Serology Laboratory, Karachi which provides services to the judicial systems of the Sindh process in both civil and criminal cases.

Program Schedule: June 29, 2022
Day and Time: Wednesday 10.00 am Pakistan time: 9.30 am Tehran time
For registration (free): bit.ly/GCNDP-SIREN
Register by June 25, 2022
Venue: L.E.J. National Science Information Center, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, Karachi-75270.

For more information: Email: siren.lej@gmail.com; Call: 021-111-222-292 Ext: 267, 275.
Room No. 202, 2nd floor, L.E.J. National Science Information Center, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, Karachi-75270.

Jointly Organized by COMSTECH and The Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC) in collaboration with Islamic University in Uganda.
Venue: Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU), Kampala
Date: August 22-26, 2022

Deadline for applications: 15^th July, 2022

Introduction

In view of the diversity of several products, including processed food and other items of daily use in the present day, authentication and confirmation of their Halal nature is a growing challenge globally. Beside the environmental contaminants, both biological and chemical, addition of non-halal ingredients, which is prohibited for Muslims, are a matter of concern.  In recent years, awareness about Halal food and products has increased due to the cross contamination of several industrial products in our daily life. However, with increasing globalization, many Islamic countries import these products (or ingredients) from places which do not observe the Islamic religious laws. It is therefore, imperative for the Muslim countries to establish Halal testing laboratories which will ensure the ‘Halal’ status of the consumer products.

COMSTECH, SMIIC and other OIC institutions/organizations have been mandated by the Abu Dhabi Declaration (Second OIC Summit on Science & Technology, June 2021) to develop the capacity of Least Developed Countries of the OIC relevant to Halal (Clause # 32).

Course Objectives

The objective of this training courses is to encourage the harmonization of Halal Standards used in the OIC Countries and internationally by aiding in the adoption and use of the OIC/SMIIC Halal Standards. The training course is designed to train the participants from Africa LDC-OIC Member States regarding the procedures for adoption, implementation and use of the OIC/SMIIC Halal Food Standards, mainly:

1. OIC/SMIIC 1:2019 – General Requirements for Halal Food
2. Auditing of Testing Labs in line with OIC/SMIIC 35 – Conformity Assessment – General Requirements for the Competence of Laboratories Performing Halal Testing.
3. the Testing Procedures standards such as Test Method for detection of porcine in Food Products (meat, processed food and gelatin) which are being chosen at SMIIC TC1 Technical Committee for Halal food issues.

The aim is to transfer knowledge and skills, and to develop the human capital, while bridging the knowledge gap and enlightening the compliance requirements set forth by the regulatory bodies in the OIC Countries.

Practical session: The first 3 days will consist of lectures which will can also be attended via zoom. This will be followed by a practical session of 2 days which will be conducted for a limited number of selected participants to transfer hands-on knowledge in halal laboratory testing methods. 

In regards to the practical training program, participants should fulfill the following criteria:

• Chemists, Researchers and Test Specialists high level, no beginners
• At least 3 years of practical experience in Real-Time PCR
• Able to converse and write in the English language
• Hold a permanent position at their institute
• Daily work with the measuring equipment
• Good knowledge in GLP.
• Age between 27 – 45 years old
• Had not previously participated in any course under SMIIC and COMSTECH
• Number of participants is limited and selection is based on the relevancy of the applicant’s job scope to the objective of the programme. Furthermore, hands on training is only limited to applicants from Africa.

Who Should Attend?

The training course is designed to address the interest of scientists, research scholars, government officials, statutory policymakers, enforcement officers, and food safety auditors in OIC/SMIIC Halal Products Standards and Testing.

Travel & Local Hospitality:

COMSTECH will arrange local hospitality for selected participants. Travel support will be provided to the speaker/resource persons only. Participants are expected to get their travel funding from their parent organizations/country of origin.

Registration Process:

1. For physical participation register at the following link: Physical Registration Closed 
2. For virtual participation register at the following link:  https://forms.gle/vqX13dMcvM9fPgSi7
3. Read instructions in the application form carefully and submit a properly filled form along with your CV. Foreign participants must submit a scanned copy of passport.
4.  Selected candidates will be notified through email; hence, applicants are required to check their emails regularly.

Workshop Coordinators:

Muhammad Haris Akram
Program Manager
COMSTECH, Islamabad.
Email: haris@comstech.org
Phone: +92 51 9220681

Muhammad Haseeb Ahmad
Program Officer
COMSTECH, Islamabad.
Email: Haseeb.ahmad@comstech.org
Phone: +92 51 9220681