MKU, Harvard to work on genomic research
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Madurai:03.02.2020
By next month, Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) will be finalizing a pact with Tamil Nadu Department of Archaeology and Harvard University to carry out genomic research on fossils recovered from sites like Keezhadi.
Talks have been underway to ink an MoU between the two universities since September 2019.
Speaking to TOI, professor K Balakrishnan, HOD of Immunology at MKU, who is to lead the research team said that the process of inking an MoU with Harvard University is still only in the pipeline.
“Everything will be finalized soon. The Tamil Nadu government has agreed to provide fossils from various archaeological sites including Keezhadi for DNA extraction and subsequent research. However, we are yet to reach an understanding with Harvard University,” he said.
The research work is to be carried out under the guidance of R Pitchappan, a scientist in the field of immunology, infectious diseases and human genomics. MKU is hoping for a majority of the research work to be done at the research facility and laboratory that it is currently being established in Madurai.
Last year, the university authorities had said that initial research in Madurai will be done by experts in different departments like immunology, sociology and history from MKU and archaeological experts from across India and abroad. Later, research was to be done by experts at Harvard University in the United States with advanced research facilities. The final research findings will then be published via the Tamil Nadu Department of Archaeology.
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Madurai:03.02.2020
By next month, Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) will be finalizing a pact with Tamil Nadu Department of Archaeology and Harvard University to carry out genomic research on fossils recovered from sites like Keezhadi.
Talks have been underway to ink an MoU between the two universities since September 2019.
Speaking to TOI, professor K Balakrishnan, HOD of Immunology at MKU, who is to lead the research team said that the process of inking an MoU with Harvard University is still only in the pipeline.
“Everything will be finalized soon. The Tamil Nadu government has agreed to provide fossils from various archaeological sites including Keezhadi for DNA extraction and subsequent research. However, we are yet to reach an understanding with Harvard University,” he said.
The research work is to be carried out under the guidance of R Pitchappan, a scientist in the field of immunology, infectious diseases and human genomics. MKU is hoping for a majority of the research work to be done at the research facility and laboratory that it is currently being established in Madurai.
Last year, the university authorities had said that initial research in Madurai will be done by experts in different departments like immunology, sociology and history from MKU and archaeological experts from across India and abroad. Later, research was to be done by experts at Harvard University in the United States with advanced research facilities. The final research findings will then be published via the Tamil Nadu Department of Archaeology.
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