SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday said that advances in immunology and precision medicine must be translated into public health action to strengthen disease prevention, vaccine efficacy and healthcare delivery.
He was speaking at the inaugural session of the Annual Conference of the Indian Immunology Society, IMMUNOCON-2026, held at Srinagar and organised by the Advanced Centre for Human Genetics, SKIMS, under the theme “Beneath the Grandeur of Chinar: Illuminating Mysteries from Fundamentals to Translational Frontiers in Health.”
Highlighting the importance of immunological research in modern healthcare, the Lieutenant Governor described the human immune system as one of nature’s most sophisticated biological structures, stressing that continuous scientific innovation is essential to prepare for future global health challenges.
Sinha said that precision medicine represents a major transformation in healthcare and called for greater interdisciplinary collaboration among scientists and researchers to develop innovative medical solutions. He emphasised the need to bridge the gap between laboratory research and clinical application to ensure timely access to diagnostics, medical technologies and therapies.
The Lieutenant Governor also underscored three priority areas for future research: development of “Immuno-AI Fusion” systems using artificial intelligence to map immune profiles; advancement of “climate immunity” studies to address emerging health risks linked to environmental change; and strengthening translational medicine to accelerate the conversion of scientific discoveries into patient care.
He added that immunological innovation is a moral responsibility in safeguarding humanity against future pandemics and commended the global scientific community for its contribution to medical science.
The LG further said that hosting the conference in Jammu and Kashmir reflects the region’s historical legacy as a centre of knowledge and scientific inquiry.
Among those present were Prof. G P Talwar, Founder Director of the National Institute of Immunology; Prof. M Ashraf Ganie, Director SKIMS; Prof. Amit Awasthi, President of the Indian Immunology Society; Prof. Anil Kaul, Vice Chancellor of Malla Reddy Vishwavidyapeeth; Dr. Bashir A Fomda, Dean Medical Faculty SKIMS; and Prof. Dil Afroze, Head of the Advanced Centre for Human Genetics, SKIMS, along with scientists, researchers, policymakers and senior officials.
