The ‘Hands-on-summer training Programme” a critical part of Sankara Nethralaya’s ongoing knowledge dissemination initiatives, conducted annually by the Vidyasagar Institute of Bio-Medical Science (VIBS), a Unit of Medical Research Foundation (MRF) with an objective of imparting real time knowledge and experience to post graduate students in their chosen fields of specialization was conducted this year between 8thMay and 26th May 2017 at the Basic Medical Sciences Laboratories located in the Kamalnayan Bajaj Institute for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (KNBIRVO) Building at the Sankara Nethralaya Main campus. A total of 23 candidates registered for the program and were assigned as per their preference in the following specialty departments (6 in R.S. Mehta Jain Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 6 in SN ONGC Genetics & Molecular Biology and 11 in L & T Microbiology Research Centre).
All the participants performed well in the evaluation conducted at the end of the programme by the three departments where the training was imparted, giving a sense of professional fulfillment to the organizers and faculty members. Dr. K. Lily Therese, coordinator, VIBS organised the valedictory function on 26th May 2017 after the successful completion of the program. The participants were requested to share their impressions and experiences on the session to enable the organizers to gauge the effectiveness of the same and all of them gave a good feedback on the training imparted to them, rating it as excellent. The faculty members and the Scientists involved in conducting the programme also shared their interesting experiences with the students. The participants were highly satisfied with the ‘Hands on training programme’ and had a high word of praise for the faculty members who helped them to understand and learn the various advanced techniques. The participants were requested to share the acquired knowledge and impart the skills to their juniors and batch mates in their respective colleges, in keeping with Sankara Nethralaya’s philosophy of disseminating knowledge for the common good. Dr.H.N.Madhavan, Director and Senior Professor of Microbiology & VIBS & Dr.S.Mathavan, Head of SN ONGC Department of Genetics & Molecular Biology addressed the participants and distributed the certificates to the successful participants during the valedictory function.
The function came to an end with a warm Vote of Thanks by Dr. N.Angayarkanni, HOD, R.S.Mehta Jain Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology. She expressed her gratitude to the faculty, scientists and technical staff involved in training the students, the management of Vision Research Foundation & Medical Research Foundation for providing the facility and the founder of VIBS, Padmashri Iravatham Mahadevan, I.A.S. for providing the wonderful opportunity to train Post graduate students from various Science & Arts Colleges & Research Institutions.