Workshop on Sanger Sequencer held at SMVDU, Katra

Two -Day workshop on Sanger Sequencer- jointly organized by coordinators of Higher Education project funded by HEI’s Govt. of Jammu and Kashmir and MMTTC on 20^th March –21th March 2024 held at SMVDU, Katra. The Inaugural Session was attended by participants from various educational institutions of JK, Research scholars, and Faculty of SMVDU. Prof. Manoj K Dhar, Director, ACSIR and Ex Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu was the Chief Guest and keynote speaker for the occasion. The presence of Prof. Pragati Kumar, Vice-Chancellor of SMVDU, lent weight to the event, emphasizing the institution’s dedication to fostering a culture of scientific exploration. Prof. Kumar’s welcome address resonated with attendees, instilling a sense of purpose and direction. The Inaugural Ceremony of the Workshop was held at Matrika Auditorium, SMVDU. Dr. Sharada Potukuchi, Coordinator of the workshop welcomed all the guests and participants and made delegates aware about the mandate of the capacity building project under which the Workshop was conducted, wherein introduction of MMTTC by Prof. Suparn Kumar Sharma underscored the importance of collaborative initiatives in driving innovation in biotechnology. Among the audience were Dr. Sunil Wanchoo, Dean Faculty of Sciences, as special invitee. Prof. Uma Bhamadipati, Prof. Balbir Singh, Dr. VV Tyagi, Dr. Sanjeev Anand, Dr. Sunanda, Dr. Shafaq Rasool, Dr. Parvaz, Dr. Preeti Sharma, Prof. Baba Potukuchi and Dr. Raju were among the august gathering. The workshop featured a series of captivating lectures, starting with Prof. Manoj K Dhar, ACSIR, Director, Delhi who deliberated on the ‘’Role of Capacity Building in Biochemical Science’’. Prof. Dhar’s insights provided a solid foundation for understanding the fundamental principles driving biochemical research, inspiring participants to think critically about their work..Technical Experts, Dr. Anil Kumar and Dr. Vibha Pandey from Thermofisher delivered the Lecture on the nuances of Sanger Sequencing and introduced the features and applications of the recently acquired Sanger Sequencer-SeqStudio. Dr. Shweta from Shiva Scientific life sciences discussed the specialized domain of Devyser Fragment Application, offering valuable insights into this cutting-edge field. The interactive session provided a platform for participants to engage directly with speakers and experts, fostering lively discussions and the exchange of ideas. The Co-coordinator of the workshop, Dr. Rakesh Thusoo presented the vote of thanks and informed all present that such workshops in the school will be held regularly to train and educate the Faculty, Staff and other medical professionals from UT of Jammu and Kashmir. Furthermore, Hands-on training sessions were conducted by Dr. Anil Kumar, Application Scientist from Thermofisher, who provided participants with practical experience in Sanger sequencing techniques. The training sessions, held at the Central Facility Mass Array Lab, School of Biotechnology, equipped attendees with valuable skills and insights. Dr. Rakesh, organizing secretary acknowledge the support of Coordinators and staff of RP-127, RP-128 along with Mr. Rajeshwar, Mr. Bhawani, Ms. Tanvi, and Ms. Minerva for smooth conduct of the workshop.