Molecular oncologist from Cachar Cancer Hospital to represent India at UNESCO-Global Variome
Silchar, June 2: In what could be called a major stride in the area of studies in human genome,Dr. Litika Vermani, a scientist working in Molecular Oncology department under Research Division, Dr. S Krishnamurthi Centre for Research and Education in Cancer at the Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (CCHRC) in Silchar has been selected by the UNESCO and Global Variome Project for the upcoming training program for the curation of variants within the human genome.
According to sources at the CCHRC, she will represent India in the programme which would be held on the virtual mode. 15 other participants from the developing nations across the globe will take part in the programme.
Sharing her views with The Assam Tribune on Wednesday, Dr Vermani said, "Being in this part of the country, I am elated and proud to represent my country and the institute in the prestigious and vital training course which will focus on curation of human gene/disease databases.The time span of the online training is six months with emphasis on the curation of human gene/disease databases. The course will be taught by Prof. Dr. Johan den Dunnen, Professor Medical Genomics in the Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC). He along with his group build the Leiden Open Variation Database(LOVD) platform and initiated the LOVD database."
Further , she added that having worked in the area of molecular oncology at the CCHRC research laboratory covering cases from India's North East, the forthcoming training will help her to gain more insight into LOVD The course will conclude with a scientific publication on the database from each participant and participation in a scientific conference overseas and certification and an opportunity to curate the human genomics database, Dr Vermani maintained.
It may be mentioned the Dr Vermani joined the CCHRC back in 2016 from Jammu and has been involved with the research activities in her area of specialisation at the institute.
Expressing his happiness, Padma Shri Dr R Ravi Kannan, noted oncologist and director of the institute said, " the leap shows that even in small towns, very good quality of research work can happen and I am happy for Dr Vermani and her desire to work in the area. We must not complain about lack of resources, instead we should make best use of the available resources which would yield such results. It is the human mind that triumphs over the hurdles."
