Mangaluru : Nitte Deemed to be University Chancellor N Vinay Hegde emphasised the growing importance of stem cell research in medical education.

He inaugurated the second biennial national conference on ‘Advances in stem cell research and cell-based therapy with emphasis on orthopaedic, dermatological and dental applications’ at K S Hegde Medical Academy (KSHEMA). The conference was jointly organised by Nitte University Centre for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine (NUCSReM) and Department of Orthopaedics, KSHEMA.

He called upon students and faculty to utilise R and D infrastructure created at KSHEMA. He said recent advances in stem cell research and tissue engineering have made novel therapeutic developments in regenerative medicine. Stem cells and cell- based therapies play a vital role in modern health care system. Attempts are being made to use stem cells in various treatment modalities in areas such as orthopaedics, haematology, dermatology and also in dentistry.

Vice Chancellor Prof B Satheesh Kumar Bhandary, pro chancellor Prof Shantharam Shetty and others were present.

The conference comprised seven scientific sessions, a total of 16 faculty talks, eight delegates’ paper presentations and 35 poster presentations with the participation of 190 delegates.

Prof A Ananthram Shetty, Chair of Orthopaedics and Director of Research, Institute of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, Canterbury Christchurch University, Kent, UK, and Prof Seok Jung Kim, Director of Cell Therapy Centre and an orthopaedic surgeon at The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea were the resource persons.