KARACHI:
Pakistan’s first molecular genetic laboratory has been inaugurated with the cooperation of the Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America (APPNA), an organization of doctors of Pakistani origin based in the United States.
The newly established laboratory, located on the Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) campus, aims to diagnose physical and mental disabilities in premature babies and identify genetic defects in children and adults.
Prominent personalities including APPNA President Dr Asif Mohiuddin, General Secretary Dr Rizwan Naeem, Jinnah Sindh Medical University Vice Chancellor Professor Amjad Siraj Memon and Dow University Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Saeed Qureshi, attended the launch ceremony at the Karachi Press Club.
Dr Mohiuddin said the new laboratory would be instrumental in detecting genetic disorders and possible diseases in babies. The facility would be particularly valuable in identifying conditions in premature babies and could also predict health problems that might arise in the future, he said, describing the laboratory as a “significant step” towards modernizing medical diagnostics in Pakistan.
Professor Memon stated that the laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, allowing for early detection of genetic defects. The lab will have the ability to determine a child’s genetic makeup and even identify gender by extracting fluid from the mother’s uterus.
