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Nineteen scientists from the Vision Research Foundation participated at the 18th Indian Eye Research Group (IERG) meeting at Hyderabad held from July 31 to August 1, 2010.
Held from 1992, the annual IERG meeting brings together investigators involved in different areas of basic and clinical eye research across India to discuss the latest research methodologies and current trends in ophthalmology.
The two-day meeting included oral presentations on Gene and Cell based therapy, Community Eye Health, Cornea and Lens, Glaucoma and Retina and numerous poster presentations. Talks and papers, presented by researchers, on ocular stem cells, lens crystallines, age-related macular degeneration were very informative.
Dr. S Krishna Kumar, Head of Department, Ocular Pathology, gave a talk on “Epcam, Myself, Retinoblastoma and the Continuing Journey;” Dr. Ronnie George, Senior Consultant, Glaucoma, spoke on “Population based studies: implications for Glaucoma Care in India,” and Dr. LS Vardharajan spoke on “Models of Amblyopic Vision.”
One of the highlights of the meeting was the talk given by Abraham Scaria from Genzyme on “Gene Therapy for the treatment of Wet-AMD.”
Dr. Namperumalswamy, Chairman, Aravind Eye Care Centre, Dr. G. N. Rao, Founder, L.V. Prasad Eye Institute and Dr. SS Badrinath, Chairman Emeritus, Sankara Nethralaya, were honored with mementos for their monumental work on clinical eye research and their service.
In the validation ceremony, it was announced that IERG will unite with ARVO (India chapter) and will be called as IERG –ARVO.
 A vision screening & training program for school teachers was organised on July 31, 2010 by the hospital’s Tele-Ophthalmology department.
Forty-one teachers from 31 schools from the Kancheepuram District Sriperumbudur Block, participated in the Teachers Training Programme.
The programme, sponsored by the Sai go Muktieashwar Foundation, Chennai, will enable the teachers to conduct vision screening for students at their school.
Through the vision screening, teachers will identify students who need spectacles or further ophthalmic treatment. To assess the vision screening by teachers, personnel from the teleophthalmology department will visit the school to perform a detailed vision screening and will recommend appropriate ophthalmic treatment.
A collaborative effort between the Vision Research Foundation and Nichi-In Biosciences has borne fruit with the invention of a novel procedure which will help treat diseases like persistent corneal ulcers, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and other severely damaging injuries to the corneal epithelium.
In 2003, VRF scientists identified a synthetic material — the Mebiol Gel — which was used to grow corneal limbal stem cells of rabbits.
According to Dr. HN Madhavan, President, Vision Research Foundation, who headed the VRF team, the stem cells multiplied rapidly in the Mebiol Gel, which liquefies when cooled.
The cell culture dish was placed in a refrigerator and once the gel liquefied, scientists injected the stem cells, after separating it from the liquid, into the eyes of 12 rabbits blinded because of ocular surface damage.
The results were promising —vision was completely restored in seven rabbits and partially restored in three rabbits. The procedure, however, failed to yield any significant response in the remaining two rabbits.
Dr. Madhavan, who is also Director & Professor of Microbiology, Sankara Nethralaya, said that cultivating stem cells using the Mebiol Gel prevented rejection and infection.
The team applied for a patent in 2005 and in March 2010, both VRF and Nichi-In Biosciences were awarded the patent for “a method for cultivating cells derived from corneal limbal tissue.”
Describing the patent as a “great achievement,” Sankara Nethralaya Chairman Emeritus Dr. SS Badrinath said, “It is a red letter day for Sankara Nethralaya. This product will be of service to humanity, benefiting patients with corneal blindness.”
Deputy Consul General of Japan in Chennai, Mr. Takayuki Kitagawa, who was the chief guest, said India was emerging as a major destination for stem cell research and called for enhanced collaboration and cooperation between the countries in the field of medicine.
Dr. Samuel JK Abraham, Director, Nichi-In Biosciences, spoke on the hurdles that the organisations had to overcome while undertaking the research.
Eye stem cell therapy shows promiseIndian express, july 24, 2010
New hope in stem cell therapy for blindnessTimes of India, July 23, 2010
The unstinting support received from society, coupled with the untiring efforts of all consultants and employees, has enabled Sankara Nethralaya emerge as an ophthalmic institution of great repute, Chairman Emeritus, Dr. SS Badrinath has said.
The collective effort, from doctors and society, has enabled the ophthalmic hospital to expand its quality eye care services to other parts of the country, he added.
Dr. Badrinath was speaking at a function to felicitate the Akhil Bharatvarshiya Swetambar Sthanakvasi Jain Conference Mahila Shakha (ladies wing) Tamil Nadu for supporting Sankara Nethralaya’s community services.
Pushpa Bohra from the Mahila Shakha spoke about her organisation’s activities, which includes educational and medical projects and inculcating good values and culture in young children. Sankara Nethralaya’s philosophy of serving the community, she said, was similar to the Jain principles of service to society.
Dr. Tarun Sharma, Director, Fund-raising, threw light on Nethralaya’s future projects including the School of Dispensing, the Institute for training in general ophthalmology and cataract surgery.
Resource Mobilization Manager, Mr. Alagiri spoke on the institution’s need for funds and the various ways in which the public can lend support to Nethralaya’s community services.
Thanking the Mahila Shakha for their benevolent gesture, SWAN trustee Surekha Mehta appealed to the dignitaries to continue supporting the hospital in its endeavours.
Does the use of cell phones increase the risk of cancer? Even if scientists are divided about it, here are some suggestions that could minimise the radiation.
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 Sankara Nethralaya’s latest offering to the people of Chennai comes in the form of a clinic at Shenoy Nagar. The Smt. T.K. Lakshmi Ammal and Smt. T.K. Alamelu Ammal Sankara Nethralaya — named in memory of the mother and sister of retired Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai, Mr. T.K. Sourirajan — was inaugurated on July 17, 2010 by Lion Dr. CV Ananthasayanam, Chairman, NC Chandra Builder Limited.
Mr. T.K. Sourirajan, in his will, had bequeathed his property to Sankara Nethralaya.
OPD consultation will be offered between 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm on all weekdays, thus enabling office goers to avail the eye care services offered at the clinic.
Welcoming the ophthalmic institution’s latest undertaking, Dr. Ananthasayanam lauded the “pioneering spirit” of the institution’s founder Dr. SS Badrinath in providing affordable eye care to all. “No person is too big or small at Sankara Nethralaya, everyone is kept on the same pedestal,” he added.
The clinic, Dr. Badrinath said, will not only serve the local people but also those who work at the hospital — part of the building will serve as a hostel for PG students undergoing their fellowship at Sankara Nethralaya.
Remembering Mr. Sourirajan on the occasion, Dr. Badrinath said by inaugurating the new clinic, “the Sourirajan dream has now been realized.”
The clinic will also serve as a surgical fixing centre for patients who are required to undergo a surgery at the main hospital at College Road. Dates for surgery as well as appointments with super specialists at the main hospital will also be fixed at the clinic on a day convenient to the patient.
Describing the Lions’ association with Sankara Nethralaya as a “great honour,” Lion GV Raman said there was “no parallel to the great service rendered by Sankara Nethralaya.”
Mr. PR Ravindran, Chief General Manager, Sankara Nethralaya, briefed the gathering on the institution’s expansion programme and some of its recent endeavours, including its branches at Rameswaram and Tirupathi. Dignitaries also praised the efforts of Lion SN ‘Sankara Nethralayan’ Hari Narayanan towards spreading Nethralaya’s mission for vision.
The clinic includes a fully air conditioned waiting area for patients, a reception desk, optical shop and adequate parking facilities.
Sankara Nethralaya’s latest undertaking takes the eye hospital’s branches in the city to five. The ophthalmic institution already has a branch each at RA Puram (Navasuja Sankara Nethralaya), St. Thomas Mount (CU Shah Sankara Nethralaya), Haddows Road, Nungambakkam (Jagadguru Kanchi Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi Nethra Nilayam) and College Road (main hospital).
The new clinic is located at:
Smt. T.K. Lakshmi Ammal and Smt. T.K. Alamelu Ammal Sankara Nethralaya
New No. 39, old no. 19, 1st Main Road,
East Shenoy Nagar,
Chennai – 600030
For appointments call: 044-26641913, 044-28271616, 044-42271500
Eye clinic openedThe Hindu, July 19, 2010
Sankara Nethralaya now at Shenoy Nagar tooIndian Express, July 20, 2010
Yet another batch of students from the Birla Institute of Technology & Science successfully completed the BITS Practice School 1 Summer Training Programme on July 16, 2010. Every year BITS students undergo an intensive two-month training at the Vision Research Foundation, the research wing of Sankara Nethralaya.
This year a total of 10 students underwent training in various departments, including Biochemistry, Microbiology, Genetics & Molecular Biology and Information Technology.
Student feedback: Nandkishore Prakash pursuing his MSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences (II year) at BITS shares his experience at Sankara Nethralaya.
“Being in Sankara Nethralaya has been a fun and enriching experience. The projects gave us the opportunity to carry out practically the things that we have only read in theory. We were in awe of the facilities, as we have never seen such advanced labs, far less work in them. The training we received is invaluable. We are very satisfied with the kind of exposure we gained. We step out with newly gained skills. Many of our batchmates working in other organisations have said that the work they have been given is routine. On the contrary, the valuable nature of the research work given at Sankara Nethralaya motivated us to work for long hours without regret. Right from the orientation till the last working day, Sankara Nethralaya employees have been a constant source of encouragement. The congenial work environment in the labs and the lively atmosphere at the institution has made the experience at Sankara Nethralaya wonderful.”
An eye bank at Sankara Nethralaya-Kolkata was inaugurated on July14, 2010 by Shri. R.S Falor.
Chairman Emeritus, Sankara Nethralaya, Dr. SS Badrinath spoke on the importance of eye donation and motivated all members to come forward to donate their eyes.
Dr. Mona Bhargava, HOD, Cornea, Sankara Nethralaya-Kolkata, briefed the gathering on the functioning of the eye bank and on how eye donation can help address corneal blindness. There are 6.8 million people suffering from corneal blindness in India.
Earlier on, Dr. Sujata Guha, Medical Director, Sankara Nethralaya-Kolkata, in her welcome address, spoke on the rapid strides made by the hospital since it shifted to Mukundapur in 2009, including the expansion of its services which will soon include a LASIK department.
Dr. Vasanthi Badrinath, Mr. V Vaidyanathan (Chairman), Mr. PR Ravindran (Chief General Manager), the hospital’s advisory committee members, staff and patients participated at the function.
The first batch of medical secretaries successfully completed their training on July 6, 2010 from The Sankara Nethralaya Academy(TSNA). The ‘Short Term Course in Medical Secretary’ provided the medical secretaries with a comprehensive understanding of the nuances of writing reports, articles, billing insurance and order supplies and trained them in performing highly specialized secretarial duties.
Sankara Nethralaya Chairman Emeritus Dr. S S Badrinath expressed his pleasure in the inclusive training provided to the candidates and the “positive approach” adopted by the candidates following the course.
The Medical Secretary course has been designed to meet the demands for well-trained and competent medical secretaries in hospitals. An array of topics, including anatomy & physiology, medical terminology, introduction to hospital management & information system, communication skills, public relations, case studies and telephonic etiquettes of the various supportive service departments, are taught to candidates during the course.
Training for the next batch will commence from September 2010.
For more information please visit www.thesnacademy.ac.in or mail to mahali@snmail.org / snacademy@snmail.org
Chennai-based Sankara Nethralaya and California-based biotechnology firm International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCO) have formed a collaboration to develop ISCO’s “CytoCor” stem cell-derived corneal tissue. The goal is to use CytoCor to treat corneal blindness and vision impairment.
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