Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) on Tuesday inaugurated a 10-day DHR–ICMR-sponsored national workshop on “Next-Generation Biomaterial Scaffolds for Stem Cell Therapeutics in Regenerative Medicine” at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry (FVSc & AH), Shuhama.
The national-level workshop aims to strengthen capacity building in regenerative medicine by integrating fundamental science, translational research, biomaterial technologies, and clinical applications.
The inaugural session was presided over by Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K. Guests of Honour included Prof. Abid Hamid, Dean, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Kashmir; Dr. Naveed Nazir Shah, Head, CD Hospital; and Dr. Sangram K. Samal, Scientist and Consultant (Cell & Gene Therapy), ICMR, New Delhi. Senior university officials, faculty members, scientists, clinicians, researchers, and students were also present.
Welcoming the guests, Prof. Riaz Ahmad Shah, Dean, FVSc & AH, highlighted the transformative potential of regenerative medicine in both human and veterinary health care.Addressing the gathering, Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai described the workshop as a significant initiative bringing together academia, medicine, industry, and government on a common platform. He commended the faculty for organising a program of national importance and emphasised the need for institutional collaboration, innovation-driven research, and affordable therapeutic solutions. He also stressed the importance of launching short skill-based programs to expand certification opportunities and support continuous professional development.
Prof. Abid Hamid termed the workshop a timely intervention for developing skilled human resources in the emerging field of regenerative medicine. Building on this, Dr. Naveed Nazir Shah underscored the importance of translational research in bridging laboratory discoveries with clinical applications and stressed the need for stronger multidisciplinary collaborations. Echoing these views, Dr. Sangram K. Samal highlighted the importance of One Health approaches, interdisciplinary research, and structured capacity-building initiatives to accelerate progress in regenerative medicine.
The inaugural session also witnessed the release of a documentary showcasing SKUAST-K’s milestones, infrastructure, academic excellence, research achievements, and future vision. A book on evidence-based research and practical guidance in stem cell therapeutics was also released, along with a compendium documenting the university’s academic, research, and outreach achievements.Organising secretary Dr Mudasir Bashir Gugjoo reported an overwhelming response to the workshop, with 120 applications received for just 20 seats, including participation from an international candidate from Grenada.
Over the next 10 days, participants will undergo intensive expert lectures and hands-on training in stem cell and exosome isolation, biomaterial fabrication through 3D printing and electrospinning, preclinical evaluation, regulatory frameworks, and clinical applications.
A major highlight of the workshop will be an industry–academia–policy dialogue focusing on opportunities, challenges, and the regulatory roadmap for veterinary stem cell therapeutics in India.
The workshop features an impressive lineup of international experts from the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), the University of Michigan, and Queen Mary University of London, as well as leading Indian institutions, including IITs, AIIMS, IVRI, ICMR, SKIMS, and NIT Srinagar.
The inaugural program concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Prof. Amatul Muhee, Head, Division of Veterinary Clinical Complex, FVSc & AH, who reaffirmed the university’s commitment to strengthening regenerative medicine through research excellence, innovation, and strategic collaborations.
