Hyderabad: Hands-on experience is essential: Prof. Prakash
Prof. P. Prakash Babu, Dean of the Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics at the University of Hyderabad, emphasized the importance of hands-on experience in animal handling during his address at the inaugural session of a two-day workshop on ‘Essentials of Small Animal Handling.’ The workshop, hosted by GITAM School of Pharmacy, Hyderabad, aimed to provide participants with practical experience in handling small laboratory animals used in biomedical research and drug administration.
During the session, Prof. Babu discussed the significance of animal research in areas such as cancer research, stem cells, epilepsy, and glioma. He highlighted the complex nature of cancer, emphasizing that it is characterized by abnormal and uncontrolled growth resulting from genetic mutations. He also noted that while there are drugs available for cancer treatment, there is currently no cure, and individual genetic differences require personalized approaches to treatment.
Dr. N.Harishankar, Senior Deputy Director (Retd.) of the National Institute of Nutritian Animal Facility, provided insights into the description, handling, and application of different species and strains of animals. Dr. M.J.Mahesh Kumar, Senior Principal Scientist at CSIR-CCMB, focused on animal orientation and surgical approaches to create animal models for pharmacological experiments, offering participants practical techniques for creating and handling these models.
In addition to that, the workshop featured an invocation song performed by pharmacy professor, classical dance by students, and a welcome address by Prof. G.Shiva Kumar, setting the tone for the two-day event. “We are thrilled to host this workshop and provide students with the hands-on experience they need to excel in the field of biomedical research,” said Dr. Vinyas Mayasa, who briefed attendees about the workshop.
The ‘Essentials of Small Animal Handling’ workshop at GITAM School of Pharmacy, Hyderabad, exemplifies the commitment to practical education and research in the field of pharmaceutical sciences.
