UVAS, PKLI agree to conduct joint research projects

LAHORE: A two-member delegation from the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) and Research Centre led by Director Research/Consultant Surgeon Prof Dr Irfan Ahmad and Associate Director Clinical Research Dr Kashif Asghar visited the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) here on Thursday.

The delegation held a meeting with Dean Faculty of Veterinary Science Prof Dr Aneela Zameer Durrani and discussed areas of collaboration between UVAS & PKLI.

Director Institute of Microbiology Prof Dr Aftab Ahmad Anjum, Chairman Department of Veterinary Medicine Prof Dr M Ijaz, Chairman Department of Epidemiology & Public Health Dr Hassan Mushtaq, Chairperson Department of Surgery Dr Ayesha Hassan and Prof Dr Imran Rasheed and other senior faculty members were present.

Prof Dr Irfan Ahmad said that the aim of the meeting was to establish a strong collaboration with UVAS in research and fill the gap between animal and human sides. Such collaboration would be beneficial for both organisations especially in conducting joint research projects, he added.

During the meeting, Prof Dr Aneela Zameer Durrani said that UVAS was already working on applied research, zoonotic and one health MPhil and PhD programmes are being run in UVAS. She said UVAS is willing to collaborate with PKLI through a memorandum of understanding especially in joint research projects, exchange of students, sharing knowledge and learning each other's experiences in the areas of microbiology, surgery, epidemiology, clinical sciences and problem solving research.

They also discussed collaborative areas related to dual degree programmes in allied health sciences, disease modeling, data analysis, capacity building faculty training and workshops etc. Later, the PKLI delegation visited different departments of UVAS including microbiology BSL-3, parasitology and pathology labs.