January 10, 2002

    India and the United States today entered the last frontier in science i.e. the unraveling the mysteries of the brain, under the aegis of the joint science and technology forum set up during the historic visit of President Clinton to New Delhi. During a three-day workshop, they will focus on emerging areas of neuro-science and brain disorders. This is the first major research related scientific activity being taken up in India under the forum which is an autonomous bilateral body of the Department of Science and Technology and the US Federal Government. The forum took up its first ever activity by holding a joint workshop on nano-structured materials, another area of frontier science, in USA November last.

    Inaugurating the workshop the Minister for Science and Technology Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi said, science flourishes when it is recognised as an international discipline with pooling of efforts, resources and expertise of scientists from all over the world. Science, he said, should not be used for exploitation of man but for the welfare of the entire mankind. Extensive research during the last decade of the previous century, which was declared the decade of the brain, has revealed a lot about the mechanisms of brain function. It also made us aware of the challenges that remain, before we can fully understand the most complex human organ.

    Dr. Joshi pointed out that neuro-psychiatric disorders remain one of the disease group that affects quality of life and contribute upto one-third of the disease burden in the world. The problem becomes more acute as the life expectancy goes up and many of the traditional afflictions are eliminated through better health care. In order to address the problem we need to train and educate our people and health workers in recognising and treating brain related disorders. We also have to expand research efforts in the basic and applied aspects of neuro-science. Ayurveda / yoga’s efficacy in treating neurological disorders should also be looked into, Dr. Joshi said.

    The Minister of State for Science and Technology Shri Bachi Singh Rawat, the Secretary Department of Science and Technology Prof. V.S. Ramamurthy, the Secretary, Department of Biotechnology Dr. Manju Sharma, eminent neuro-scientist Prof. P.N. Tandon and the science counsellor US embassy Dr. Marco Di Capua called for developing unique tools to understand the complex system of the brain. Recent efforts in genomics especially, stem cell research have given enough impetus to go ahead with further exploration of this organ. Scientists recently discovered a brain cell which can multiply fast into any brain cell and this has given the confidence to take neuro-science research to new heights. Networking is very essential for success they said.

    The workshop will strive to develop and identify mutually beneficial collaborative scientific projects both thematic and clinical in nature for joint implementation by scientists from the two sides through the utilisation of each other’s expertise and facilities. Ten American scientists and 30 Indian scientists are taking part, besides 100 young research scholars and students.