Past Events

Our Programme: NTDs (neglected tropical diseases) are a major health and economic burden in Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states. The control and elimination of NTDs requires both a scale-up and integration of global mass treatment programmes, along with new tools and technologies to tackle these diseases. COMSTECH, in collaboration with A Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (known as the NTD Network, https://ntd-network.org/), is launching a virtual lecture series. for researchers across the Moslem world and beyond. Our programme draws upon expertise from both networks, and offers opportunities to gain or enhance researcher knowledge, skills and connections, all of which help to grow our shared global capacity to tackle these rapidly growing NTDs.

• The NTD Network, funded by UKRI’s Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), is a consortium of academic researchers from South America, Asia, and the UK, seeking new therapeutic solutions to leishmaniasis and Chagas disease

• Both COMSTECH and the NTD Network aim to promote global scientific cooperation and build researcher capacity to find new and better therapeutic solutions for NTDs

This online programme is the first of many COMSTECH-NTD Network joint activities we hope to offer via the COMSTECH platform.

Target Audience:

This webinar is open to academics, scientists and the general public from all OIC member states. The content is most relevant to scientists interested in NTDs research, and specialised in Microbiology, Genetics, Genomics, Molecular Biology, Molecular Medicine, and Pathology.

Please find attached:

• Webinar poster/flyer
• Talk abstract
• The speaker’s profile
  
  Register with us to attend this meeting:
• Register at : https://forms.gle/W1qdudBF1395wELb9

Contact us for further details:

Khazima@comstech.org;  comstech@comstech.org

Organized by COMSTECH in Collaboration with H. E. J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi

Date: 26- 27^th July 2021

Note: Due to alarming threat of 4^th Wave of COVID-19 and emergence of delta variant in Pakistan, COMSTECH in consultation with its resource persons have decided to conduct this event  on Virtual mode only  instead of Hybrid mode i.e. No physical participation.  All new interested applicants are requested to fill virtual participation form. Those who have registered for physical participation will be  considered for virtual participation. Zoom link will be shared with all registered participants. E- certificate will be given to the attendees.

Target Audience: This online meeting is designed to address the interest of scientists and research scholars from different fields including Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacy, etc.

Flyer click here

For Programme click here

Registration Process:

Step 1: Fill the online application form.

Click Here to fill online form for Virtual Participation.

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

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

Phone No. : +92 51 9220681-3

Contact Persons:

Dr. Hina Siddiqui  ( hinahej@gmail.com )

Ms. Khazima Muazim ( khazima@comstech.org )

Click here for more detail.

For flyer, click here.

A. Background

To explore the topic of tropical medicine and natural products, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) in collaboration with COMSTECH (OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation) will conduct an International Workshop on “Tropical Medicine and Natural Product” on 2^nd June, 2021. This workshop will be divided into 2 sessions to discuss about biodiversity exploration for traditional medicine and natural products, and also natural products and industrial applications. Furthermore, we are also expecting potential collaboration between countries, especially OIC member states to conduct research related to tropical medicines and natural products for the treatment of communicable and non-communicable diseases.

As a OIC member state, Indonesia is currently developing potential vaccine candidates. The vaccine, Vaksin Merah Putih, developed jointly National Research and Innovation Agency, Ministry of Health, Bio Farma, Eijkman, and universities in Indonesia. Along with vaccine development, many research institutions in Indonesia are working on compounds from herbal ingredients that have the potential to treat Covid-19. Based on the research that has been done, some local Indonesian plants are predicted to be candidates for COVID-19 inhibitors. Previously, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) had found Immunomodulator, an immune-enhancing supplement derived from red ginger, Cordyceps, Sambiloto, meniran and sembung leaves. This herbal medicine is medicinal and increases the body’s immune system to fight viral infections. Immunomodulators have been tested at the Emergency Hospital for Covid-19, Wisma Atlet Kemayoran, Jakarta on June 8, 2020.

Natural products from plants, marine organisms, and microorganisms, are the richest source of drug candidates. Currently over 40% of clinically used drugs have natural origin. Nature is the sustainable source of biologically active molecules, and recent developments in chromatography and spectroscopic techniques made it possible to fully utilize their potential. This COMSTECH-LIPI joint workshop is aimed to discuss most recent developments in this field, and to foster productive collaboration between the researchers in OIC member states. 

B. Objectives

1. To identify and explore the biodiversity potential of traditional medicine and natural product in health and disease management.
2. To encourage and strengthen collaboration among OIC member states in research, innovation, and development of various therapeutic products.
3. To provide affordable biotechnology products for OIC member states.

C. Speakers and Moderator

Speaker

1. Dr. Laksana Tri Handoko, Chairman of National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN)
2. Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General COMSTECH as well as a Director ICCBS – Pakistan
3. Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Jantan, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
4. Prof. Dr. Andria Agusta, Research Center for Chemistry, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI)
5. Mr. Kilala Tilaar, CEO of Martha Tilaar Group
6. Dr. Nadeem Khalid (CEO at Herbion Pakistan)
7. Prof. Dr. Edi Meiyanto, Gadjah Mada University (UGM)

Moderator

1. Dr. Delicia Yunita Rahman, Research Center for Biotechnology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI)
2. Dr. Anggia Presetyoputri, Research Center for Biotechnology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI)

D. Participants

Open for public, this international workshop is targeted to be attended by OIC member state, researchers, academia, related Ministries/Institutions, Universities, Media and general public.

E. Date and Venue

The webinar will be held on Wednesday, 2 June 2020, 09.00-12.35 PST Time and/or 11.00-14.35 GMT +7 via Zoom meeting and YouTube Live Streaming on COMSTECH & LIPI channel

Please kindly register to http://bit.ly/registrationLIPICOMSTECH2021

F. Contact Details

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

Phone No. : 92 51 9220681-3

Email: Khazima@comstech.org  ; jahan_pcmd@yahoo.com  comstech@comstech.org

G. Tentative Agenda

        TENTATIVE AGENDA

COMSTECH – LIPI International Webinar on Tropical Medicine and Natural Products

09.00 AM PST/11.00 AM IDN, June 2^nd, 2021

Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology is organizing the 3rd International Workshop on Functional Reverse Engineering of Machine Tools (WRE 2021) on 13–14 November, 2021. The Workshop has the technical sponsorship of IMechE (UK) and IEEE (USA), and the financial sponsorship of the Directorate General of Science and Technology, Government of KP.

WRE 2021 invites original book chapters to be published by CRC Press (Taylor & Francis Group, USA). Book chapters accepted after a double-blind review process will be published by CRC Press (Taylor & Francis Group, USA) as a book series (Computer in Engineering Design and Manufacturing Series). 

The main focus of WRE 2021 is Machine Tools: An Industry-4.0 Perspective, 

including, but not limited to, the topics titled below.

• Digital Twining of Machine Tools
• Industrial Internet of Things at SMEs
• SERCOS III/Industrial Ethernet Functionality
• Cybersecurity in Discrete Manufacturing
• Big Data at Manufacturing Enterprises
• Cloud Computing for Modern Enterprise
• Additive Manufacturing – Current trends
• Smart Sensors Fabrication
• Classic and Modern Control
• Process Monitoring and System Performance
• Sustainability at SMEs
• Promoting Small and Medium Enterprises

For further details and submission guidelines please visit: https://giki.edu.pk/wre2021

September 08- 09, 2021

Venue: International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), Karachi

Deadline for Applications: August 25, 2021

Introduction

The Islamic world is vast and diverse, comprising of mainly developing countries, which are in various stages of socio-economic development, S&T, and innovation capacity. As science progresses, the current research topics touch many fields of expertise requiring interdisciplinary skills. In this scenario, researchers and scientists working in all fields of natural sciences have to indulge themselves in research and development to produce products for national needs.

Incorporating the most recent changes in healthcare, regulations, standards, and technology, the field of biomedical engineering seeks to close the gap between engineering and medicine by combining the design and problem-solving skills of engineering with medical biological sciences in order to advance health care treatment. This includes diagnosis, monitoring, therapy as well as equipment manufacturing, standardization, routine testing, and preventive maintenance.

Realizing the importance of biomedical devices and healthcare services, COMSTECH in collaboration with International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), Karachi has planned a two-day exhibition in September 2021.

Objective

The objective of this exhibition on ” Innovative Biomedical Devices and Healthcare Solutions ” is to highlight the role of modern-day tools and equipment, which are commercially available, or developed as prototypes for commercialization. This international exhibition will bring a unique platform for innovators, technology developers and service providers, who are eager and ready to share experience and professional skills with participants of common interests in science, technology and innovation.

The international exhibition is designed to project technologies and innovations in the realm of biomedical engineering and healthcare services. It is a showcasing of next generation technologies, solutions and strategies from all over Pakistan and OIC Countries, and an opportunity to explore and discover the practical and successful implementation of such technologies in healthcare sector. The exhibition will incorporate meetings between potential end users and commercial partners with R&D professionals and scientists.

Target Audience:

Scientists, researchers, innovators, healthcare professionals, computer scientists, young entrepreneurs, industrialists, and officials of relevant Ministries from Pakistan and other OIC countries.

Key Areas:

The exhibition will cover the following topics:

1.Biomedical Devices/ Medical Equipment

• Health Monitoring Devices
• Image Processing
• Sensor Technology
• Wearable Health Devices
• Radiography
• Laboratory Equipment/Diagnostic Testing
• Diagnostic Kits and Reagents
• Robots

2. Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

• Telemedicine/ e-Health Programmes
• Internet of Things (IoT)
• Big Data/ Data Analytics
• Cyber Security
• IT Systems and Solutions
• Hospital Management Systems
• Tracing / Tracking Systems for Global Pandemics
  

3. Pharmaceuticals

• Drug Delivery Systems
• Medical/ Surgical Equipment

Registration Fee:

A nominal registration fee of Rs. 5,000 will be charged from all the exhibitors. COMSTECH will cover the cost of accommodation, food, and exhibition space for selected exhibitors. No registration fee will be charged from participants or visitors.

Travel & Local Hospitality:

ICCBS, Karachi will arrange local hospitality for all selected exhibitors. No travel support will be provided to exhibitors and participants. All exhibitors/participants are expected to get their travel funding from their parent organizations/country of origin.

Registration Process:
Step 1: Open online registration form, Visitors

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 exhibitors will be notified through email; hence, applicants are required to check their emails regularly.

Venue:

The exhibition will be held at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), Karachi (www.iccs.edu), in the business hub of Karachi, the largest city of Pakistan along the beautiful coast of Arabian Sea.

Exhibition Coordinators

• Dr. Reaz Uddin
  Associate Professor
  Computational Biology
  ICCBS, University of Karachi

• Dr. M. Sadiq Ali Khan
  Associate Professor
  University of Karachi.

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

Deadline for Applications: July 12, 2021

June 3^rd, 2021
Hybrid Event

Short Abstract: There is a lack of capabilities and proper infrastructure in OIC member countries in the fields related to clinical trials, research and development, and bioequivalence and bioavailability studies. This has led to the increasing dependence of member countries on European and North American countries for the provision of new drugs including investigational drugs and the member countries export as compared to the aforementioned countries/regions is meagre due lack of proper research and development and subsequent clinical trials for investigational drugs and bioequivalence and bioavailability studies for generic drugs. Keeping in view the theme of the very first meeting of NMRAs held in Jakarta i.e. “Strengthening collaboration amongst the OIC NMRAs towards self-reliance of Medicines and Vaccines”, there is a dire need to have a robust system and collaboration mechanism in OIC countries for the conduct of clinical trials and research and development that would cater the growing need of member countries and would promote a culture of research in the Muslim Ummah. In this regard, a virtual training of Representatives of National Medicines Regulatory Authorities (NMRAs) from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Member Countries on Collaboration towards Self Reliance of Medicines and Vaccines with the theme“Collaboration Among OIC Members Countries for Promotion of Research Culture in Medicines and Vaccines Through Strengthening and Upgrading the Clinical Trials”, is scheduled to be held on 3^rd of June, 2021 virtually.

The main objectives of this virtual training of Representatives of National Medicines Regulatory Authorities (NMRAs) from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Member Countries are:

• A valuable platform to deliberate upon and develop a joint mechanism for research and development specifically clinical trials as a step towards self-reliance in medicine and vaccine

• Develop a follow-up and implementation mechanism and propose relevant changes in national laws of member countries to strengthen and upgrade the mechanism of conduction of clinical trials.
• To present a country situation on the mechanism and conduct of clinical trials by the member countries.
• Develop a framework for capacity building, knowledge sharing, and technology transfer mechanism among OIC members’ countries where technically advance OIC members’ countries would upgrade the capacity of the other member countries focusing on conduction of multicentre and multicounty clinical trials.

Target Audience: This virtual training is open to academicians, scientists, drug regulators, health policy makers, health officials and the public from all the member OIC states.

Online form for Virtual Participation and E- certificate:

https://forms.gle/B8uoVpbZ4P3u2LnA9

Online form for Physical Participation

https://forms.gle/J1D9u1qkNijTNMvm7

Programme

(June 3rd, 2021) – Thursday

(Timing according to Pakistan Standard Time)

Contact Persons:

Prof. Dr. Raza Shah ( raza_shahm@yahoo.com )

Prof. Dr. Abdur Rashid ( rashiddrap@gmail.com )

Ms. Khazima Muazim ( Khazima@comstech.org )

Prof. Dr. Hamid Saleem

Professor, Department of Space Science in IST, Islamabad
Space and Astrophysics Research Lab (SARL), National Centre of GIS and Space Applications, Islamabad.
Theoretical Research Institute Pakistan Academy of Sciences, Islamabad.

Date and Time: 24^th March 2021; 03:00 pm Pakistan Standard Time

Blurb: Large scale magnetic fields in galaxies have been detected but the generation mechanism is not fully understood. Spatial scales of these fields are of the order of kilo parsecs and magnitudes are of the order of micro Gauss. On the other hand, collimated outflows of gases and plasmas from astrophysical objects such as young stellar objects (YSOs), active galactic nuclei (AGN), and the Sun (solar spicules and coronal loops) have also been observed. Complex structures of magnetic fields are associated with these plasma jets. These jets move with velocities smaller than as well as closer to velocity of light. Here exact analytical solutions of the set of nonlinear partial differential equations for the two fluid classical plasma are presented to show that magnetic fields and flows both are created simultaneously by baro clinic vectors of electrons and ions. Thus thermal energy of plasma becomes fundamental source for the generation of magnetic and flow fields in plasmas. Important point to note is that ordered structures in the form of jets are created by the highly nonlinear set of two fluid plasma equations. Before discussing these theoretical models, a brief historical development of astronomy and astrophysics is presented for the general interest.

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

Profile of Speaker: Dr. Hamid Saleem is a Professor in the Department of Space Science at the Institute of Space Technology. His area of specialization is Space and Astrophysical Plasmas and he has published 140 research papers in International journals. He has served as the Director General for National Centre for Physics. He completed his Ph.D. in Plasma Physics from Quaid-e-Azam University, the research work for his Ph.D was conducted in Germany under DAAD Fellowship. He also worked for two years as JSPS post-doctoral fellow in National Institute of Fusion Science (NIFS), Toki, Japan.

Poster of webinar:  Attached

Link for registration and E- certificate:

https://forms.gle/ZCQxfAJsQaNpTK4h8

Procedure to join:

Zoom link for participation will be shared selected participants.

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

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, is matters of concern.  In recent years, awareness about Halal food and other products is 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 statuses of the consumer products.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

This one week training will focus on the following:

1. To learn how to establish a Research and Development Laboratory for the investigation / analysis of non-halal ingredients (prohibited in Islam) in food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
2. To provide hands-on training on instruments involved in non-halal ingredients testing.
3. To learn the procedure for the testing of most common non-halal ingredients such as detection of alcohol, pork meet, and pork fat (Lard) and detection of GMOs
4. To learn the procedure for the laboratory accreditation for ISO 17025 and OIC/SMIIC 35:2020.
5. To learn how to successfully participate in international proficiency testing.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

The workshop is designed to address the interest of scientists and research scholars and technicians involve in food testing and research.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Applicant must be the resident of OIC countries.

REGISTRATION PROCESS

Step 1:

Click here to fill online form for Virtual Participation.

Step 2: Read instructions in the application form carefully and submit a properly filled form.

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

TRAVEL & LOCAL HOSPITALITY

COMSTECH will arrange complete local hospitality, internal transportation, and sightseeing visits for all registered participants. Travel support will be provided to the speakers only. Participants are expected to get their ticket funding from their parent organizations.

List of Speakers

TECHNICAL FOCAL PERSON

Prof. Dr. Syed Ghulam Musharraf
International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences,
University Of Karachi