Bioinformatics research can help pharma industries\\\' growth

RAJSHAHI, June 3 (BSS): Experts and researchers at a discussion said further study and research in bioinformatics can help country's pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries keep pace with the changing world.
They said equal access of biological data can offer wide range of research areas at molecular level within limited resources and provide opportunities in healthcare development as well as personalised medicine.
The observations came at the inaugural session of a three-day training programme styled "R-Package/Software Development of Bioinformatics Research Group" on Rajshahi University (RU) campus yesterday.
RU Statistics Department organised the training in association with Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project (HEQEP) of University Grants Commission (UGC).
Vice-chancellor Prof Mijanuddin addressed the session as chief guest while Pro-vice-chancellor Prof Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan and Science Faculty Dean Prof Habibur Rahman spoke as special guests with Prof Riptar Hossain, Chairman of the department, in the chair.
The discussants said the ongoing development of information and communication technology can contribute in the field of biological data analysis or bioinformatics.
It is important to design bioinformatics study policy with the integration of biology and computer science to keep pace with the world, they added.
Bioinformatics is a new area of biological research both for developed and developing countries. Researchers have to take the responsibility of bringing out new initiatives to spread bioinformatics all over the country. Government support and funding is crucial for this type of initiative, they added.
During his keynote presentation, Prof Nurul Haque Mollah, Coordinator of the course, said integrative action on bioinformatics will bring about a crucial change in biological research and development of the country.
Some potential steps were shown in the course that was conducted by Bangladeshi scientists.
The science of bioinformatics exhibits tremendous potential for playing a major role in the future development of science and technology, Prof Nurul Haque said.
Bioinformatics will especially contribute in the future as the leading edge in biomedicine to the pharmaceutical companies by appropriately yielding a greater quantity of lead drugs for therapy, he added.
Faculty members need to integrate their research and teaching with students. Teaching and research are mutually beneficial rather than mutually exclusive.
Considering the present political and economic condition of Bangladesh, private initiative is vital to pushing the science ahead. Now is the best time to start the race. "Together it's possible to achieve more than what we can imagine," Prof Haque added.