Bangalore, Jan 18, 2008: Indian vice president Hamid Ansari will inaugurate the fifth edition of BioAsia 2008—scheduled to be held from Feb 7-9 in Hyderabad.

 

Mr. Ansari will also lay the foundation stones for the National Animal Resource Facility for Biomedical Research; Biotechnology Incubation center (BTIC) and Center for Stem Cell Sciences on this occasion.

 

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is starting the National Animal Resource Facility for Biomedical Research at an investment of Rs five billion ($1,272,750,434). The Center for Stem Cell Sciences is being established by the Center for Liver Research and Diagnostics with the support of the Government of Andhra Pradesh, of which Hyderabad is the capital.

 

Over 20 internationally renowned scientists will deliver talks on topics related to Stem cells and Tissue engineering, Nanotechnologies, Translational research, Biopharmaceuticals, Food Biotechnology, Biofuels, GM crops etc, at BioAsia 2008, a prepared press release said.

 

The highlight of this year’s BioAsia is the lectures by the two Nobel Laureates. Sir Martin J Evans, one of the Nobel Laureates of 2007 is speaking on “Embryonic stem cells” at the inaugural session. Prof. Barry J Marshall, another Nobel Laureate will be talking on the “Helicobacter Pylori” which was identified as a primary microbe causing peptic ulcers. Sir Martin J Evan will be conferred this year’s Genome Valley Excellence Award.