KARACHI: Establishment of an “Advanced Molecular Genetics, Genomics Diseases and Treatment Center” and Serobiology Department at Ojha Campus of Dow University of Health Sciences for research and treatment of genetic diseases has been completed, which will be functional soon. As the first goal of the DUHS Strategic Plan, new undergraduate programs in Psychology and Public Health are being launched in the new upcoming academic sessions. These announcements were made by the Vice-Chancellor of Dow University of Health Sciences, Prof. Muhammad Saeed Quraishy, while addressing the eighth session of the University’s Senate. The meeting was attended by members of the Senate, including ex officio members of the Senate, provincial health minister, Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, Haji Hanif Tayyab, Chairman HEC Sindh Dr. Tariq Rafi and other faculty members.
Addressing the meeting, he said that the funds for the “Genomics Center” will enable us to provide a world class sustainable and multidisciplinary cutting edge genomic facility, that will bring together academic and health care sectors of the country together for genetic testing and advanced therapeutic modalities, using genetic approaches will lead to the broader concept of ‘Personalized medicine’ in the future. Funds for this Genomic center were provided by the Higher Education Commission, and it is completed and ready for inauguration.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Muhammad Saeed Quraishy said that Dow University has done collaborations with 9 international institutions in the 2021-2022 for research purpose regarding vaccines, variant proteins, biological materials, public health, health management, pharmaceutical management, while collaborating with 10 national institutes for research in the fields of neurology, public health vaccines, biomedical engineering and health management in the same year.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Muhammad Saeed Quraishy more said that, we are now among the nationally and globally ranked universities as DUHS has been ranked among the 601-800 institutional ranking by the Times Higher Education and 4th overall nationally for the upcoming year 2023. He further briefed that, in terms of subject of clinical and health sciences, DUHS has consistently ranked among 501-600 in Times Ranking and from previous year, DUHS had been ranked as a QS Asian Region world ranked university.
Prof. Muhammad Saeed Quraishy said that, the active participation of our students in community services made a strong impact that Times World University Ranking admitted it and ranked us significantly high in Good Health and Wellbeing, Quality Education, Gender Equality and Partnership for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-17), in terms of progress achievement.
Prof. Muhammad Saeed Quraishy said that in the year 2022, more than 7000 students were enrolled in 21 undergraduate and 52 postgraduate programs offered by the university. While 619 FCPS trainees were inducted in the year 2021-22, which is an increase compared to previous years. More graduates are expected to emerge nationally in 2022 than ever before. He said that we wanted to bring a catapult research culture to Dow University i.e. to set new standards in health science education, so that our journey continues towards excellence in education, research, clinical care and community services and a higher standard can also be set on a national level. He said that as a result of the research culture, the research papers of our faculty are being published regularly in world-class journals and their number has increased to 438 in 2021 and 2022.
Professor Muhammad Saeed Quraishy said that 18 new research projects have been granted to Dow University at the local, national and international levels this year. Presenting the statistics before the members of the Senate, he said that the ratio of 942 faculty members comes to 7.7 students per faculty member, which is in accordance to (SDG) Goal 5, which was “Recruit, retain and educate, and train the quality workforce in strategic areas of need” and the best ratio set by the Higher Education Commission for an undergraduate program.
Prof. M. Saeed Quraishy said that the Federal Ministry of National Health Services and Tobacco Control Cell of the Deputy Commission, South has declared Dow University as a smoke-free campus and university, while the Chairman of the Higher Education Commission has recently inaugurated a “Smart Classroom” facility, which was designed by the HEC. Earlier Director Finance Zain Ul Abideen Shah also spoke on occasion.
