Event Recap: Global Data Blitz

May 4, 2022

Researchers from the University of Arizona and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University came together for this international data blitz, sharing their latest in the areas of cardiovascular and cancer research.

 

On April 19, 2022, a global data blitz, aimed at increasing global collaboration and transparency around important medical research topics, was co-hosted by the University of Arizona and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University in India. In this inaugural event, three speakers from the University of Arizona and three speakers from Amrita took turns delivering five-minute, lightning round presentations.

This event marked the first of many events hoped for by leadership from each institution as part of their ongoing relationship and collaboration on the global cellular and molecular medicine dual degree program.

“Today is just the beginning. We will definitely make this a regular feature,” said Bipin Nair, PhD, Dean of Life Sciences and Amrita School of Biotechnology at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham in India and adjunct professor in the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson during his opening remarks. “Once connections have been established between groups, we can easily facilitate and foster that sharp trajectory of upward growth, fruitful collaboration, productive and successful research.”

“Our hope is that between the research internships and this program tonight, we will identify synergy that can result in exciting and innovative long-term research, collaborations, and of course, funding opportunities,” furthered Carol Gregorio, PhD, assistant vice provost of global health sciences and head of the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the College of Medicine – Tucson.

The evening’s themes were research in the areas of cardiovascular diseases and models of disease, anti-cancer therapeutics, and organoid and PDX models of cancer.

Speakers and presentations included:

  • Indulekha Pillai, PhD, Amrita - Fibroblast plasticity in cardiac calcification
  • Geetha Kumar, PhD, Amrita - Mechanistic aspects of anti-cancer potential of natural products
  • Nandita Mishra, MTech, MSc, PhD, Amrita - Alternative pathways and modes to target cancer
  • Jared Churko, PhD, UArizona - Human induced pluripotent stem cells for cardiovascular research
  • Brett Colson, PhD, UArizona - Biophysical binning of cardiomyopathy mutations in cardiac muscle proteins
  • Alfred Bothwell, PhD, UArizona - New insights into tumor formation and metastasis from organoid and PDX models and infection by leishmania

 

Visit amritapuri.arizona.edu to learn more about the innovative dual-degree program that allows Amrita students to earn a U.S.-accredited Master of Science in Cellular and Molecular Medicine from the University of Arizona, and participate in research through University of Arizona labs, at the same time as completing their degree from Amrita.

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