Past Events

Workshop Details:

Health Research Advisory Board (HealthRAB), a registered society, is a “think tank” of senior clinicians, researchers and academicians who are committed to developing the HealthRAB Research Ecosystem. Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) was established by the Third Islamic Summit of OIC held at Makkah, Saudi Arabia in January 1981. The core mandate of COMSTECH is to strengthen cooperation among OIC Member States in science and technology (S&T), and enhance their capabilities through training in emerging areas, undertake follow-up-actions and implementation of the resolutions of the OIC, and to draw up programs and submit proposals designed to increase the capability of the Muslim countries. Institute of Innovation Leadership in Medicine & Management (Iilm) is an institute that provides training and mentorship to develop leadership skills and promote innovation in professional setting.

This interactive workshop is designed for senior clinicians, researchers, and academic faculty who are committed to conducting clinical research in settings with limited resources. Participants will gain practical knowledge to conduct clinical research and establish and sustain a Clinical Research Centre within their institutions even in challenging environment.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this workshop, the participants will:

• Learn how to conduct clinical research in a resource constrained environment.
• Identify training requirements for themselves in terms of research.
• Identify requirements to establish clinical research center at their institution

Target Audience:

• Healthcare Leaders and Organizational Heads
• Senior Healthcare Professionals and Faculty Members
• Government Officials

Workshop Outcomes:

• Achieve personal and interpersonal effectiveness.
• Gain control over your life
• Get focused and organized
• Enhance your relationships
• Improve your communication
• Achieve work/life balance
  
• Poster of Certified Course:  Attached

• Date: 30^th September-2025

• Timing: 12:00 PM (Pakistan Standard Time)

• Procedure to join: In-Person

• Registration link: Click Here

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

Date: September 24, 2025  
Time: 03:00-04:00 PM Pakistan Standard Time

For Registration: Click Here

For More Information: Click Here
Submission Deadline: 20th January 2023

September 23-25, 2025
Organized Under COMSTECH Forum on Environment and Ecosystem Restoration (CFEER)
                                 Venue: University of Technology Sarawak, Malaysia    

Flyer: Click Here

Energy generation, management, and environmental impact remain pressing global concerns, especially for developing economies facing rising energy demands. The shift from fossil fuels to renewable sources is critical not only for reducing carbon emissions and mitigating climate change, but also for promoting energy access, economic development, and supply security. Choosing the right energy mix requires a careful balance of sustainability, cost, and local resources. Energy is the basic pre-requisite for quality of life and socio-economic development. In today’s world everything depends on the provision of affordable energy, be the education, food security, water, and sanitation or healthcare

In view of the growing importance to enhance resilience and sustainability in the face of the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and ecosystem restoration the OIC – COMSTECH launched the Forum on Environment and Ecosystem Restoration (CFEER), which acts as a catalyst in developing collaborations within OIC and beyond to address challenges of environment, food security, water and energy. The forum is based on the realization that OIC member countries and other developing countries have varying degrees of progress in different spheres of scientific and technological pursuits.  Given commonalities of socio-economic challenges sharing of experiences and expertise, fostering knowledge exchange, good practices and success stories would help to accelerate pace of their plans and programmes to address challenges relating to climate change and ecosystem restoration.

To address the challenges in energy sector, OIC-COMSTECH and University Technology Sarawak (Malaysia) are co-organizing a 3-day workshop from 23-25 September, 2025 to bring together energy professionals and policy makers from OIC countries. Sarawak offers a compelling case study: it generates about 70% of its electricity from hydroelectric sources—the highest renewable energy share in Southeast Asia—while continuing to integrate fossil fuels and emerging technologies.

With initiatives like the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) and the newly launched Sustainability Blueprint 2030, the state is positioning itself as ASEAN’s leading green energy hub. It is actively investing in hydropower, solar, hydrogen, and carbon market mechanisms, alongside infrastructure like electric vehicle charging stations.

The workshop will combine theoretical sessions with field visits to renewable energy facilities and community programs, offering participants practical insights into large-scale energy transition. It aims to highlight sustainable strategies informed by Sarawak’s experience in balancing development and environmental responsibility.

Objectives:

1. to explore the challenges and opportunities in transitioning toward sustainable and diversified energy systems in OIC member countries, with a focus on balancing energy access, economic growth, and environmental stewardship.
2. to create awareness among policy makers, academics and professionals of the OIC Member Countries on renewable energy
3. to introduce participants to innovative and regionally adapted energy solutions, including hydrogen development, community-based energy programs, and the use of carbon markets.
4. to strengthen institutional and academic cooperation in renewable energy research, capacity building, and technology transfer among universities and stakeholders within the OIC region.

Workshop Themes are:

• The Energy Transition towards Renewable Energy Technologies
• The Energy Transition towards Renewable Energy Technologies
• Challenges in Integration of Renewable Energy
• Renewable Energy policies/Incentives and Pricing
• EV and Hydrogen Transitions: Policy, Technology, and Market Readiness

Target Audience:

• Scientists, Engineers, Technology Developers, Policy Makers and Regulators
• Senior Managers from Electricity Generation and Distribution Companies / Public and Private Utility Companies
• Entrepreneurs and Vendors from the Renewable Energy Sector
• Water and Hydropower Specialists 
• Financial Institutions / Developers of Energy Market Trading 

Resource Persons:

Leading national & international experts with vast experience in energy management, technology development, policy frameworks and energy economics will conduct the workshop.

Registration Process:

Step – 1: Application Form can be accessed at: Click Here

Step 2: Selected candidates will be notified through email hence; applicants are required to regularly check their emails.

Modalities: Organizers will provide complete local hospitality to the selected international participants.

Workshop Coordinators 

Dr. Tariq Zaman
Head of ASSET/Programme Coordinator/Associate Professor
University Technology Sarawak, Malaysia

Muhammad Haris Akram     
Programme Manager
OIC – COMSTECH Secretariat        
Email: haris@comstech.org

Prof. Dr. Murtaza Najabat Ali
CEO Revive Medical Technologies Inc.
Professor & Head of Biomedical Engineering Department, Riphah International University, Islamabad.
Date: September 23, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM (Pakistan Standard Time)

Flyer: Click Here

Abstract:

Entrepreneurship is the process of identifying and pursuing opportunities to create and capture value, often involving innovation, risk-taking, and the establishment of new businesses or ventures. It is a driver of economic growth, job creation, and societal progress. Entrepreneurship can encompass a wide range of activities, from developing new products and services to creating novel business models. This talk will shed light on the different facets of entrepreneurial mindset and the different steps and stages involved in the Entrepreneurial process. This discourse will also emphasize the importance of starting a new business pivoted around a comprehensive feasibility and business plan. An overview of different models of innovation will also be a point of discussion.

Profile of Speaker (Click Here)

How to register

For registration, please fill the following form: Click Here

Zoom Link will be shared with the participants 1-2 days before the webinar.

Webinar Coordinator:

Muhammad Haseeb Ahmad
Program Officer
Haseeb.ahmad@comstech.org

Theme: Genome Editing Technologies for Agriculture
Venue: North South University (NSU), Dhaka, Bangladesh
Date: 12^th – 14^th September 2025
Organized by: COMSTECH, IOFS, and NSU

Flyer: Click Here

Overview

The 3rd Youth Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology is a prestigious tripartite initiative by COMSTECH (OIC Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation), Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), and North South University (NSU), Bangladesh. This event will bring together promising youth, researchers, and innovators from OIC member states to explore the transformative potential of CRISPR-Cas technologies in agriculture.

Genome editing holds the key to solving major challenges in agriculture—enhancing crop yields, boosting resilience against climate change, and ensuring food security. Yet, OIC member states remain underrepresented in biotechnology R&D globally. This forum aims to bridge that gap by empowering the next generation with state-of-the-art knowledge and hands-on exposure.

This prestigious forum will take place from 12^th to 14^th September 2025 at North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh, and will bring together youth leaders, early-career researchers, policy advocates, and innovators from across the OIC region.

Theme of the Forum:

“Genome Editing Technologies for Agriculture: Future of Agricultural Innovation in OIC Countries”

This year’s theme reflects our commitment to empowering the youth with cutting-edge knowledge in biotechnology and genome editing, with a strong focus on applications in sustainable agriculture, food security, and climate resilience.

Participants will engage in keynote talks, technical sessions, panel discussions, and hands-on training, guided by leading global and regional experts in CRISPR-Cas technologies and biotechnology policy.

Forum Objectives

• Promote scientific exchange and collaboration in genome editing.
• Develop human capital and research capacity in OIC countries.
• Highlight recent advances and applications of CRISPR in crop and livestock improvement.
• Foster cross-border networking among youth researchers.

Key Topics

• CRISPR-Cas Systems and Emerging Applications
• Gene Editing for Climate-Resilient Crops
• Speed Breeding and Genetic Gain Acceleration
• Genome Selection in Livestock and Crops
• Variants of Cas Proteins: New Frontiers
• Ethical and Regulatory Considerations in Gene Editing

Target Audience

Academicians, researchers, postgraduate students, and early-career scientists from OIC member states.
Note: Participants from all OIC countries are welcome. Limited funding may be available for selected participants from specific countries.

Registration Details

• Deadline for Registration: 10^th August 2025
• Registration Fee: None
• Participation Mode: Hybrid (Physical & Virtual)
• Hospitality: COMSTECH, IOFS, & NSU will provide local hospitality for selected physical participants.

Registration Link: Click Here

Zoom Link: Will be shared with virtual participants via email.

Contact Information

Bangladesh
Dr. Hafizur Rahman

Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Microbiology                                
North South University (NSU), Dhaka-1229, Bangladesh
&  COMSTECH focal person in Bangladesh

OIC – COMSTECH, Pakistan

Ms. Khazima Muazim
Programme Manager, COMSTECH

Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), Kazakhstan

Dr. Abdelaziz Hajjaji 
Programme Manager, Plant protection, & Climate impact
Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), Astana, Kazakhstan

By: Prof. Dr. Imran H. Khan

Director of Operations, Proteomics Core Lab Department of Medical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, USA

FOR REGISTRATION USE THE GIVEN LINK BELOW:
https://bit.ly/3MATD-SIREN

FOR REGISTRATION USE THE GIVEN LINK BELOW:
https://bit.ly/3MATD-SIREN

Application Deadline: December 10, 2022

Prof. Dr. Keykavous Parang Professor, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Chapman University, California, USA

Date: September 11, 2025, Time: 9:00 AM, (Pakistan Standard Time)

Flyer: Click Here

Abstract of the talk:

The use of doxorubicin (Dox), an anthracycline chemotherapeutic agent, is associated with cardiotoxicity and inherent acquired resistance. Thus, there is an immediate need for delivery systems to minimize toxicity and deliver Dox to sensitive and resistant cells. We have previously shown several cyclic peptides containing alternate tryptophan (W) and arginine (R) residues act as efficient molecular transporters. The peptides were conjugated with Dox via a glutarate linker to afford cyclic peptide-Dox conjugates. While the LC₅₀ values of free and conjugated Dox were comparable to those in wild-type MDA-MB-231 cells (0.45 vs. 0.56 µM, respectively), peptide-conjugated Dox was significantly more effective in both Dox-resistantMDA231R cells (LC₅₀ of 2.3 vs. 14 µM, respectively) and MES-SA/MX2 cells (LC₅₀ of 4.3 vs. 20 µM, respectively). Free Dox (5 µM) reduced the viability of the kidney (LLCP-K1, ATCC CRL-1392) and rat myocardium (H9C2, ATCC CRL 1446) cells by 85% and 44%, respectively. [R₅K]W₇A-Dox and [R₅K]W₇C-S-S-Dox showed minimal toxicity to LLCP-K1 (5-7%) and H9C2 (<9%) cells at similar or higher concentrations. Fluorescence micrographs were consistent with cytotoxicity studies, indicating minimal uptake of [R₅K]W₇A-Dox in heart cells. The total concentration of Dox (conjugated and released) in the nucleus after 4 h exposure to [W₉R₈K-β-A]-Dox was higher than free Dox. The mechanistic data indicated endocytosis independence and suggested direct trans-membrane localization. Our data show that appropriate peptide-Dox conjugates can effectively internalize into resistant cells that pump out the free drug and do not cause similar toxicity in normal non-cancerous cells.

Profile of the speaker: Click Here

For registration: Click Here

Webinar Coordinator:
M. Haseeb Ahmad
Program Officer
Haseeb.ahmad@comstech.org

28th Novemeber 2022
10.00 – 12.00 Hrs