KATHMANDU, Dec 8: The first National Conference on Genetic Diseases began in capital on Friday. The two-day conference will conclude on Saturday.

According to the organizers, the Society of Life Sciences Nepal (SLSN) and DECODE Genomics and Research Center, about 250 delegates are expected to participate in the conference. The delegates include scientists, chemists, doctors, medical laboratory technologists, pharmacists, bio-technologists, researchers, microbiologists, biochemists and students.

The organizers said the conference aims at drawing the attention of government authorities as well as policy makers to the prevalence of various genetic disorders in Nepal, besides bringing together clinicians, researchers and patients affected by genetic disorders at the same platform.

"This conference provides a national platform for showcasing research works in the field of human genetic diseases," said Anish Rai, chairman of SLSN, "Genetic disorders have been on theirse worldwide and Nepal is no exception."

Although limited, Nepal has its share of organizations and persons trained or working in the field of genetic disorders. However, due to the lack of proper communication between the clinicians and the researchers, the knowledge is rarely shared on a personal basis and thus remains obscured in the realm of publications and case reports, according to the organizers.

Former prime minister and co-chairman of Nepal Communist Party, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, addressed the inaugural session. “It is an urgent need to study the issue to tackle the genetic disorders in the country," he said.

 
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