Aravind Medical Research Foundation, 3-4 December 2024

The Aravind Medical Research Foundation (AMRF) hosted a two-day Education and Research Conference in collaboration with Dartmouth College on December 3rd and 4th. This initiative began in 2016 through discussions between Dr. N. Venkatesh Prajna, Chief of Cornea, and Dr. Michael E. Zegans, Chief of Ophthalmology at Dartmouth-itchcock Medical Centre, Hanover, USA. The conference was organized by Prof. K. Dharmalingam, Director of Research, and coordinated by Dr. D. Bharanidharan, Scientist in Microbiology and Bioinformatics at AMRF, alongside Ms. Dawn E. Carey, Senior Associate Director of Global Health and Development at Dartmouth College.

During the morning sessions, ten students from Dartmouth College presented research proposals on various eye diseases to an audience of clinicians, scientists, and research scholars. The presentations received high praise from the invited experts, including Dr. R. Kim, Dr. N. Venkatesh Prajna, Dr. S. R. Rathinam, Dr. Usha Kim, Dr. S. Lalitha Prajna, and Dr. Mahesh Kumar. In the afternoon, AMRF research scholars displayed their work through poster presentations. Dr. D. Bharanidharan assisted AMRF students in creating posters that were accessible and engaging for all attendees, particularly those interested in eye research. During lab visits, AMRF scientists showed the core research facilities and explained the ongoing projects to the Dartmouth delegation. The cultural events on the first evening, featuring performances by students from both institutions, added a festive touch to the program. A standout Bharatanatyam performance by Dr. L. Murugashankari brought vibrancy to the evening. Additionally, the
interactive game “Glimpses of India,” organized by Dr. Swagata Ghosh, was engaging and informative, followed by song and dance performances. This conference represents a unique opportunity for both institutions to share educational and research activities, paving the way for future collaborative research projects and long-term partnerships between AMRF and Dartmouth College.