Indo-Australian conference on Biotechnology underway

Hyderabad, Mar 7 (UNI) The third Indo-Australian Conference on Biotechnology, focussing upon 'Vaccines for Cancer, Infectious Diseases, Lifestyle and Degenerative Diseases,' is underway at the Ramoji film city here.

The signing of Memoranda of Understanding between the Queensland Institute of Medical Research and two Indian institutions, namely the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics and the Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, preceded the inaugural session here yesterday. The MoU aims to explore possibilities of mutually beneficial collaborations and multicentric networks.

Delivering inaugural address Dr Ian Frazer, Director, Centre for Immunology and Cancer Research, University of Queensland, Australia, described his work on the development of a highly effective vaccine to prevent infection by HPV which is responsible for causing cancer of the cervix, the most common cancer affecting women in the developing world. The vaccine is expected to be approved for use within the next year.

Dr G Balakrish Nair, who is internationally recognised for his work on cholera, also spoke at the Conference hosted by the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, and the University of Hyderabad.

UNI AP SHB MSJ RK1042