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Kalam: make use of convergence of technologies

Special Correspondent

Calls for further studies in the treatment of heart disease

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has called for an integrated mechanism to see that patients are directed to the right specialist for right diagnosis at the right time and cost.

Delivering the Silver Jubilee Address at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences here on Thursday, the President said the patient should not be made to go from one place to another in search of the right specialist.

He urged medical researchers to make best use of the convergence of technologies such as information technology, biotechnology and nanotechnology. The convergence of information and communication technology, medical electronics, bio-technology, nanotechnology and mathematical simulation could one day lead to an integrated solution to the problems of the mentally challenged.

"It will be possible to transform certain functions of the damaged portion of the brain, say in the left hemisphere, to the normal portion in the right hemisphere of the brain by some triggering mechanism, or by implanting a bio-chip to carry out those functions."

Dr. Kalam called upon Indian researchers to work on finding a cure for Parkinson's disease. Prof. Vijay K. Varadan of Pennsylvania State University, U.S.A., had developed a DNA insert for controlling the symptoms of the disease such as trembling of hands.

Stressing the need for lifestyle interventions to check cardiac diseases among the urban population, he said the hospitals should take proactive steps to counsel their clients in a family atmosphere.

He said gene chips, which could identify disease-causing mutated genes in a person, could find application in diagnosis and treatment of cardiac and neuro-diseases.

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