[india-drug] Animal experimentation: Brainstorming session

["YK Gupta" <yk.ykgupta@gmail.com>]

Animal experimentation: Brainstorming session
*********** 
 
Dear colleagues,

Animal experimentation is vital for biomedical research, testing and
education. During the last decade there has been a remarkable
improvement in the standards of animal facilities and quality of
experimentation particularly with small animals but the use of large
animals is also crucial for drug development, testing and discovery of
new molecules.

You will agree, that generating data on large animals in India has
become most difficult. Non-availability of colony bred cats, dogs,
monkeys as per CPCSEA guidelines, long delays (some time up to years)
in  getting  ethical clearance forces the Indian Pharma Industries to
depend  upon other countries for data on large animals. This not only leads
to loss of precious time in cutting edge science but also drains
substantial  funds out of country. Training and basic & applied research in
academic  and research institutions also suffer.

To discuss issues and problems faced by the scientists, academicians,
pharma industries, national laboratories, testing laboratories or any
other stakeholder, a brain storming session is being organized under
the auspices of Indian National Science Academy (INSA), Indian
Pharmacological Society, Association of Physiologists and Pharmacologists of
India (APPI) and Indian Nutrition
Society.

It is proposed that after two sessions of brain storming, a
recommendation will be prepared.

Dr. Mehtab S. Bamji, the Chairperson of ICSU Joint Committee of Indian
National Science Committee for   IUNS,  IUPS and IUPHAR will take up the
matter with the Planning Commission's  working group on policies,
administrative changes for improvement in  S & T, research environment and
resource under the chairmanship of  Dr.R.Chidambaran. He is keen that we
hold this meeting before end of June and make the recommendations quickly.

This hurried meeting therefore has been organized on *26th June 2006 at
Indian National Science Academy, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, ITO
Crossing, New Delhi. The brain storming session will start at 11AM and will
last upto 5 PM.
*
Arrangements for lunch, coffee/tea has been made. However due to
ultra short time with us, it will not be possible to bear any expenses
for attending this meeting. We are however confident that you being an
important stakeholder will attend this meeting and give your valued
input in preparation of the recommendation.

Please confirm your participation by e-mail/phone to me or any of us.

Dr Mehtab S Bamji
Chairperson, ICSU Joint Committee
email:mbamji@sancharnet.in
mehtabbamji@yahoo.com


Dr.C.M.Gupta
Director, CDRI, Lucknow
email:drcmg@satyam.net.in
drcmg@rediffmail.com

Dr. Suresh Pothani
Dy Director, NIN, Hyderabad
email:suresh@bart.rprc.washigton.edu

Regards,

Dr.Y.K.Gupta
Member ICSU Joint Committee for IUNS, IUPS and IUPHAR
President Indian Pharmacological Society
Prof & Head
Dept. of  Pharmacology
AIIMS,New Delhi-110029
email:yk.ykgupta@gmail.com

P.S: Agenda of meeting is attached
Please circulate the invitation a to all your interested colleagues in
pharma industry, research laboratories, test laboratories and academic
institutions.