Events

Speaker:   Prof. Dr. Khalid Saeed Khan

Distinguished Investigator (Beatriz Galindo programme) , University of Granada, Spain
Former Editor-in-Chief of British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Founder of  Core Outcomes in Women’s and Newborn Health (CROWN) award winning initiative

Date and Time: 21st  January 2021
10:00am- 11:30am Pakistan Standard Time

flyer

Biography

Khalid Saeed Khan is Distinguished Investigator (Beatriz Galindo programme) at University of Granada, Spain. With an h-index>70 he has published over 400 peer-reviewed papers and supervised 25 higher-degree theses. He graduated in medicine from the Aga Khan University in its first health faculty cohort. Higher training at McMaster University led him to an academic career, focusing on patient-oriented clinical research. Khalid has contributed to many trials and meta-analyses: has run 48 primary research trials, recruiting 979,242 participants, and has published 149 systematic reviews, collating data from 6415 studies with 68,798,079 participants. He is the lead author of ‘Systematic Reviews to Support Evidence-Based Medicine’, which won a BMA Medical Book award. He is former Editor of BJOG, EBM-BMJ and BMC Med Educ. His Core Outcomes in Women’s and Newborn Health (CROWN) initiative was awarded a BMA Strutt and Harper grant to help reduce research waste. According to the instruction, Lyrica 300 mg is intended for the treatment of certain diseases. An average dose is 150-600 mg per day. This drug should be withdrawn by gradually reducing the dose. Meanwhile, withdrawal of Lyrica can cause such reactions as sickness, depression, excessive sweating, chill and lack of appetite.

http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5084-7312

https://professorkhalidkhan.com

Registration:

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Join us in Person (for residents of Islamabad and Rawalpindi only)

COMSTECH Secretariat, 33-Constitution Avenue, G-5/2, Islamabad 

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Virtually join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 851 4164 4214
Passcode: 765808

Contact person:

Ms. Khazima Muazim
Programme Manager
COMSTECH Secretariat, Islamabad
E-mail: khazima@comstech.org

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the ability of researchers to reach the audiences so much more quickly. There are receptive audience, always waiting for information, and there is a lot of hunger about scientific information and research-based knowledge. Science communication is relatively a new field of study. We should organize training for journalists on science communication to educate masses and fight infodemic, said Mr. Ehsan Masood while addressing COMSTECH webinar on “Pandemic lessons for science communication” held online, on Jan. 6.

He asked some basic questions; what is the criteria of lockdown, social distancing and when do we open and close borders, how do we test, trace and isolate and said that it does not relate to a sort of advance technology to answer these questions. There should have been some consensus amongst the world on it. But all of these things happening according to each country’s own standards, everyone is doing by self, may I call it pandemic of selfishness or what, He lamented.

Mr. Ehsan mentioned that in contrast, science is really fascinating. The pandemic has shown, that when researchers can set aside the desire to compete and when agree to work towards the greater shared goal, then look what can happen. He mentioned that I have not seen this level of cooperation in my 25 years long career in science journalism. The way researchers communicate with each other has been a much more collegial and cooperative endeavor.

Infodemic – a pandemic of misinformation, but also a pandemic of disinformation, which means deliberately intended to mislead or potentially to cause harm. The flow of scientific information has very heavily relied on social media. We have all benefitted massively from social media. But of-course this ability to communicate so much more quickly and easily with very vast number of people has downside as well. It is fueling the infodemic. The concerning element of this is the scale and speed of it.

He concluded by saying that science is happening faster, it is being communicated faster, the regulatory process is happening quicker, many more people are now involved in the research process, we talk about citizen science, public involvement, public engagement, all these things are coming on the way on the scale that is different.

By answering the questions of the audience, he said that we need to have good research to cope with infodemic. He said that the role of local languages is most important for effective science communication. Scientists should communicate by using different communication means available.

Ehsan Masood is a personality who have inspired everyone. He has done a wonderful work in his field and has international recognition on his achievements in the field of science journalism, said Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General COMSTECH while giving introductory remarks.

Dr. Iqbal said that in the context of pandemic we have seen that when the humanity was trying to meet the challenges posed by the pandemic, the human relationship has been exposed the vulnerability of humanity at large. He pointed out that we have seen gross failure of international cooperation, we have realized how important is the good governance.

He said that we have seen people struggling everywhere to communicate the right information and knowledge to the people and raised the question that how much miscommunication has caused a damage to the humanity during this pandemic. Dr. Iqbal said that it happened because of lack of knowledge of science communication and ability to reach out to masses, but certainly it was a major failure in terms of communication. He said that it has created a niche that science communication has real importance not only to communicate science but also to meet the challenge of this magnitude.

The lecture was attended by more than 250 participants from around the globe; Pakistan, Turkey, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri-Lanka and Azerbaijan to name a few.

Ehsan Masood is a science journalist. He is presently Nature’s Editor for Editorials and also has responsibility for the journal’s news coverage from Africa and the Middle East. He is the author of a number of books including The Great Invention, a narrative history of how GDP became the world’s most influential economic indicator (Pegasus, 2016) and Science and Islam: A History (Second edition, Icon, 2017). He has also made documentaries on science and policy for BBC Radio 4 and was a 2017/2018 Knight Science Journalism Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Between 2007 and 2017 he taught science and innovation policy to students of science communication at Imperial College London.

International Turkic Academy and COMSTECH sign MoU at COMSTECH Secretariat on December 23 to strengthen cooperation and collaboration for the promotion of science & technology in OIC member states.

On the occasion of MoU signing ceremony, President of the Int’l Turkic Academy, Dr. Darkhan Kydyrali, appreciated COMSTECH for holding Al-Farabi forum successfully.

Dr. Kydyrali said that our relations are not only limited to the relations between institutions, we have great relationship between nations. He assured that on his return he will meet with the president of Kazakhstan to share these activities with him. He said we have signed many MoUs with different institutions of Pakistan. He said that he strongly believes that COMSTECH will play a strong role for further enhancing the Pak-Kazak relations.

Coordinator General COMSTECH, Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary appreciated the organization of OIC Science Summit by Kazakhstan in 2017. He said that we will soon organize an international forum on Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal in collaboration with international Turkic Academy, Kazakhstan. Dr. Iqbal assured that we will be partner in these activities.

Both institutions have agreed to be engaged in various joint activities such as organizing forums on Al-Farabi, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, and Ulugh Beg Mirza and establishing Turkic Academy Library at COMSTECH and incorporating leading universities of Pakistan in the network of universities of International Turkic Academy.

The Turkic Academy was founded on 25 May 2010 at the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation in the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Islamabad, January 1, 2021: Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Rawalpindi and COMSTECH — OIC Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation — Islamabad, signed an MoU to build capacity in ophthalmology and prevent blindness in OIC member states through providing training and conducting eye camps in different OIC member states.

The MoU ceremony held at COMSTECH headquarters and signed by Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General, COMSTECH and Maj. Gen. Rehmat Khan (R), President, Al- Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Rawalpindi. The Vice-Chancellor of the University of The Gambia, Prof. Dr. Faqir Muhammad Anjum and Mr. Mohammad Adeel, Assistant Director, Science Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan were also present at the occasion.

According to the MoU, Pakistan Institute of Ophthalmology (PIO) the academic wing of Al- Shifa Trust Eye Hospital will impart training in ophthalmology, optometry and orthoptics, public health, ophthalmologists, ophthalmic technicians, bio-medical technicians, ophthalmic nurses and ophthalmic nursing assistants of OIC region.

Al-Shifa Trust eye hospital will offer observerships for 4-12 weeks and 1-year clinical fellowships to candidates from OIC countries in the subspecialties, such as cornea and refractive surgery, Vitreo-retina, Pediatric ophthalmology, Glaucoma and Orbit and Oculoplastic.

Al-Shifa center for community ophthalmology will carry out wide-spread outreach programs for the prevention of blindness in OIC member states. A delegation of highly qualified and experienced surgeons will be sent to the pre-selected OIC member states to undertake surgical camps for cataract as well as perform advanced surgical procedures for diseases such as Cornea, Glaucoma, Obits and Oculoplastic, Vitreo-retina, Pediatric eye disorders and, Ocular oncology.

Eye camps in Kampala, (Uganda) Niamy, (Niger) and Serrekunda, (Gambia) will be organized this year.

Special emphasis will be given to carry out research in areas of Ocular Epidemiological Studies, Ocular Imaging, Ocular Genetics, Data Analytics, Cytokines and Biomarkers for Ocular Pathologies, Clinical Trials, Clinical Studies and Ocular Therapeutics.

COMSTECH would provide Al-Shifa Trust support, cooperation, and collaboration for all activities planned and organized in OIC member states.

Mr. Ehsan Masood

Nature’s Editor for Editorials
2017/2018- Knight Science Journalism Fellow- Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Date and Time: 6^th January 2021; 03:00 pm Pakistan Standard Time; 02:00 pm Gulf Standard Time: 10:00 am Greenwich Mean Time

Blurb: The COVID-19 pandemic has propelled science communication from a relatively niche field into a mainstream topic. Researchers in all countries are at the heart of providing their peers, the public and policymakers with reliable information on a virus and a disease that has killed more than 1.7 million people. Citizens scroll incessantly to receive updates on case numbers. Journals are working overtime to publish, and regulators have green-lighted vaccines in record time. Ehsan Masood, an editor with the journal Nature in London, reflects on a year that has been unlike any other in his 25-year career in science communication. 

Target Audience: This webinar is open to academicians, scientists, and general public from all the member OIC states and beyond.

Profile of Speaker: Ehsan Masood is a science journalist. He is presently Nature’s Editor for Editorials and also has responsibility for the journal’s news coverage from Africa and the Middle East. He is the author of a a number of books including The Great Invention, a narrative history of how GDP became the world’s most influential economic indicator (Pegasus, 2016) and Science and Islam: A History (Second edition, Icon, 2017). He has also made documentaries on science and policy for BBC Radio 4 and was a 2017/2018 Knight Science Journalism Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Between 2007 and 2017 he taught science and innovation policy to students of science communication at Imperial College London. 

Poster of webinar:  Attached

Link for registration and E- certificate:

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Procedure to join:

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Passcode: 960781

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

February 16-17, 2021

Organized by

COMSTECH, Secretariat, Islamabad In collaboration with International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) and Pakistan Biotechnology Information Center (Karachi Chapter)

Who Should Attend:

The workshop is designed to address the interest of scientists and research scholars working in various fields of plant biotechnology including genetics, and molecular biology.

Course Content:

The course will be comprises of series of lectures and “online hands on training sessions” covering following contents:

• Overview of Plant Tissue Culture and its Applications
• Equipment and Media used
• Explant Selection
• Sterilization
• Initiation, Multiplication, Shooting and Rooting

Registration:

Registered participants will receive e-certificates

Please register at following link before February 1, 2020

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeovmmpAzzwPZNQj45KqmF_6UtN4d544QyPOFuuw0PvB0Ohkg/viewform

Venue:

Time: Feb 16, 2021, 12:00 Noon Islamabad, Karachi, Tashkent

Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 851 0200 4262
Passcode: 208783

Time: Feb. 17, 2021 12:00 Noon Islamabad, Karachi, Tashkent

Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 883 9983 9097
Passcode: 881692

WORKSHOP PROGRAM (Pakistan Standard Time)

Day One (16 Feb., 2021)

12:00-12:05     Inauguration Ceremony

12:05-12:10     Recitation of the Holy Quran

12:10-12:20     Welcome Address by Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary

12:20-13:00     Lecture 1 entitled, “Importance of Tissue Culture Techniques for the   Sustainable Development of Muslim World”

13:30-14:30   Practical Session (Tissue culture of Horticulture Crops)

Day Two (17 Feb., 2021)

12:00-12:35     Lecture 1 entitled, “Basic Tissue Culture Techniques and Their Applications”

12:40-13:10     Lecture 2 entitled, “Ethics and Biosafety in Plant Biotechnology”

13:10-14:10     Practical Session 2 (Tissue culture of Cash Crops (rice))         

14:15-14:35     Closing Ceremony

Speakers:

Prof. Dr. Behzad Ghareyazie
President, Biosafety Society of Iran.
Executive Director, Iran Biotechnology Information Center (IRBIC) Iran

Prof. Dr. Saifullah Khan
University of Karachi, Pakistan

Prof. Dr. Naagla Abdalla
Head Dept. of Genentics
Faculty of Agriculutre, Cairo University, Egypt

CONTACT PERSON

Khazima Muazim
Programme Manager
COMSTECH Secretariat, Islamabad
Tel: +92-51-9220681-3
Fax: +92-51-9205264, +92-51-9220265
Email: khazima@comstech.org

Organized by:

COMSTECH Secretariat, Islamabad in Collaboration with the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) Karachi, Pakistan

January 11-12, 2021

Molecular biology is an important area of interest for scientists working in various disciplines including structural biology, genetics, biochemistry, and biotechnology etc. Molecular biology plays important roles in understanding formations, actions, and regulations of various parts of cells which can be used to efficiently targets new drugs, diagnose diseases, and understand the physiology of the cell. This two-day online certificate course comprised of lectures followed by training sessions on “Basic concepts and techniques in molecular biology”. The course is designed to teach the basic skills of molecular biology to participants from all scientific disciplines those have little or no previous experience in molecular biology hands on work. It is also an ideal course for those who would like to consolidate their current, basic skill level and to further polish their handling skills.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

The course is designed for the large group of audience including graduate students, scientists, research scholars, and medical doctors those have interest to work at molecular level in related fields of molecular biology. People from variety of disciplines and academic backgrounds including Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, and Biotechnology can get benefit from this workshop.

WORKSHOP CONTENT

The program includes a series of online lectures and hands-on sessions on the following topics;

Basic Cloning Requirements

Polymerase Chain Reaction

Agarose Gel Electrophoresis

Extraction of DNA from Agarose Gel

Cloning and Expression Vectors

Preparation and Purification of Plasmid DNA

Restriction Digestion

Ligation

Transformation in Bacterial Cells

Expression and Purification

VENUE

Time: Jan 11, 2021, 12:00 PM Islamabad, Karachi, Tashkent

Join Zoom Meeting

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Meeting ID: 825 3841 5428

Passcode: 317300

Time: Jan 12, 2021 10:00 AM Islamabad, Karachi, Tashkent

Join Zoom Meeting

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Meeting ID: 892 6355 6753

Passcode: 639724

WORKSHOP PROGRAM (Pakistan Standard Time)

Day One

12:00-12:05     Inauguration Ceremony

12:05-12:10     Recitation of the Holy Quran

12:10-12:20     Welcome Address by Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary

12:20-13:30     Lecture 1 entitled, “General Molecular Biology Lab Techniques: Cloning, Restriction Digestion, Ligation, Transformation”

13:30-14:30   Practical Session (Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Agarose Gel Electrophoresis, DNA Extraction)

Day Two

10:00-12:00     Practical Session 2 (Plasmid Prep, Restriction Digestion, Ligation, Transformation)

11:00-12:00     Practical Session 3 (Protein Expression)

12:00-12:15     Closing Ceremony

REGISTRATION PROCESS

Register at: https://forms.gle/8L1dGf5mMfzsPpA97 . Kindly fill the form and submit it before 8^th January, 2021. Registered participants will receive e-certificates.

CONTACT PERSON

Khazima Muazim
Programme Manager
COMSTECH Secretariat, Islamabad
Tel: +92-51-9220681-3
Fax: +92-51-9205264, +92-51-9220265
Email: khazima@comstech.org

OIC Member States are developing their indigenous responses in medical technology to combat the pandemic. This section highlights some of the main efforts of our Member States.

To view the recent developments click on the following desired country name:

Iran

Malaysia

Turkey

UAE

Pakistan

Saudi Arabia

COMSTECH will continue to add the innovations in Covid-19 related technologies in other Member States as it receives updates.

Disclaimer:  The information has been gathered from respective official and private sources of Member States. COMSTECH cannot vouch for their accuracy in all aspects.

Weekly updates on COVID19

Breakthroughs in Global Research on COVID-19 ( 16-June-2020 )

Comprehensive list of all registered clinical trials currently underway in OIC countries against COVID-19

Speakers for clinical trial, capacity building in OIC states

Programme on best higher education practices during COVID-19 launched – COMSTECH would collaborate in this programme

International Seminar on COVID-19 Title: “Pakistan Randomized and Observational Trial to Evaluate Coronavirus Treatment (PROTECT)” By Prof. Dr. Ghazna Khalid

Date and Time: 5th June 2020, 3:00 pm PST through ZOOM Meeting

Click here  to watch the recording of the Seminar.

Ministry of IT & Telecom through IGNITE is Providing Funding Support to High-Impact & Short Time-To-Market Ideas, that can be developed to tackle the most pressing challenges by COVID-19 outbreak.

Coronavirus: Here’s everything you need to know about the Moderna vaccine

Pakistan Randomised Observational Trial to Evaluate Coronavirus Treatment (PROTECT) Underway.

AI-based COVID-19 Detection System

IsDB-TWAS Joint Research & Technology Transfer Grant 2020: (Quick-Response Research on COVID-19)

Disclaimer of Liability: The information provided on this website is for general information purpose only. These are the news of developments in the OIC region on COVID-19 pandemic. Merits and demerits has to be judged by the readers. This is by no means endorsement of the COMSTECH for any news or product.