Date & Time: April 19, 2014, at 10:00 AM

Venue: Department of Botany (next to Computer and Biotechnology Departments), Panjab University, Chandigarh

Abstract:

Ever Since the Gene therapy trials failed, the focus shifted towards developing safe curative and robust technology. A consequential paradigm shift, inclined focus of the scientists towards developing the cellular therapies versus the molecular. This brought the focus towards, the stem cells, which currently make up the major part of the cellular therapies. These cells are now being viewed as an answer to almost all the human ailments and fast revolutionizing the field of regenerative medicine. Stem cells are the functionally uncommitted cells which can be tamed to become any functional cell. This character is now being utilized to generate different types of cells for repairing/regenerating/(re)engineering a tissue specifically in case of degenerative disorders. It is believed that, in future, it would certainly bring changes in the ways medicine is being practised today. At commercial level it is expected that by 2017 the stem cell market is expected to reach $ 16 bln globally and to ~ $ 600 mn in India The field, though, is still at an infancy stage but is certainly budding out. The issues related to this field are new but pertinent as the direct human intervention is obvious. Hence, it is mandatory that the associated issues must be discussed, deliberated and dealt to make this technology a panacea and not the pain.

Bio-data: Dr. Sanjeev Puri is M.Sc. (Hons. School) in Biochemistry from Panjab University and Ph.D in Biochemistry from PGIMER, Chandigarh. Dr. Puri has postdoctoral training at Kansas Medical Centre, Kansas City Kansas (KCK) USA and as Visiting Scientists (as a part of active research collaboration) at Kidney Institute, KCK, USA. The thrust area of his research falls in Medical Biotechnology. He is actively engaged in understanding the patho-physiology associated with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)and renal tissue regeneration along with understanding the molecular markers involved in stem cell niche. Has research collaboration with Kansas Univ Medical Centre, USA and PGIMER, GNDU, HP University. Dr. Puri has ~18 years of experience teaching & training the undergraduate and postgraduate students along with outreach activities for popularizing the science. Founding Coordinator Stem Cell Biology at Panjab University Chandigarh and member Stem Cell Core Committee, PGIMER, Chandigarh. Member DBT cancer task force, Convener institutional ethics Panjab University, JUIT Waknaghat. Dr. Puri has more than 50 peer reviewed research publications in national /International Journals ( includes J Biol Chem, BBRC, Am J Physiology, Am J Biomedical Res etc.), nine book chapters; He is on the editorial board/reviewer’s panel of reputed journals, JBC, J Chem Biol, IJBAF, Mut Res etc. MVP at Kansas Univ Medical Centre, USA for Two consecutive years. Dr. Puri has been awarded fellowship and selected as one of the 14 research scientist in the world for stem cell and regenerative fellowship in Woods Hole Massachusetts, USA. Dr. Puri has presented his work in many national /international conferences and won three research awards on the development of metanephric model system. Dr. Puri has also organized about 6 national and 4 international conferences/symposia’s. He has guided six students for PhD and supervising eleven students for the same degree.