*The partnership will provide enrolled students the opportunity to receive two degrees – M.Sc. Biotechnology, Microbiology or Bioinformatics from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and MS Cellular and Molecular Medicine from the University of Arizona. *Students will also be able to conduct research in the laboratories at the University of Arizona.
01 July, 2021: In a unique step, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University’s Amrita School of Biotechnology has entered into a dual degree partnership with the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Arizona.
According to Dr. Bipin Nair, Professor, Amrita School of Biotechnology and Dean, Faculty of Science, this is a strategic merger of the strengths of the two well established units of the two universities, both in terms of academic fervour and research excellence, providing aspiring students the excellent opportunity to tap into the expertise of the renowned and internationally recognised Biomedical Sciences faculty at the University of Arizona, while at the same time being able to harness the rich experience of the Masters programs in Biotechnology, Microbiology and Bioinformatics at the Amrita School of Biotechnology. Besides being given the unique opportunity to receive two degrees – M.Sc. Biotechnology, Microbiology or Bioinformatics from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and MS Cellular and Molecular Medicine, the students enrolling for this spectacular Dual Degree program would benefit tremendously from this innovative approach of flexible one of its kind modular courses offered by the Cellular and Molecular Medicine Department at the University of Arizona as well as to conduct research within the University of Arizona laboratories.
Carol C. Gregorio, PhD, University of Arizona, Head of the Department, Cellular and Molecular Medicine and Assistant Vice Provost of Global Health Sciences, said about the program- “We are honored to have entered this dual degree partnership with Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University—one of the top research institutions in India. This opportunity allows us to push the boundaries in our own university by tapping expertise of our renowned and internationally recognized faculty. This exciting opportunity is part of our larger mission to expand access to Arizona Health Sciences education within the U.S. and around the world.”.
Dr. Maneesha Ramesh, Dean, International Programs, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham added that Amrita was ranked the 4th Best Overall University in India in the 2020 NIRF rankings. In continuing with our quest for excellence, this dual degree arrangement with the University of Arizona is a strategically important step to ensure that our students receive the best possible training as a steppingstone to a bright future.
ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ನಗರದ ವಿವಿಧ ಪ್ರದೇಶಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕಳುವಾಗಿದ್ದ ಸುಮಾರು 15 ವಾಹನಗಳನ್ನು ಪತ್ತೆ ಹಚ್ಚುವಲ್ಲಿ ಬಾಣಸವಾಡಿ ಪೊಲೀಸ್ ಠಾಣೆಯ ಅಪರಾಧ ವಿಭಾಗದ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳು ಹಾಗೂ ಸಿಬ್ಬಂದಿಗಳು ಯಶಸ್ವಿಯಾಗಿರುತ್ತಾರೆ.
Forum Koramangala Mall & The Helping Hands presents Free Vaccination drive for the underprivileged & specially abled. The drive is hosted at Forum Koramangala Mall. Individuals will be vaccinated utilizing Covishield & Covaxin vaccines provided free of charge for age group 18+
As a part of its first round of fund-raising, Della Leaders Club aims to raise Rs. 50cr in three months With over 2000 Global Honorary Committee members already on board, the platform is set to launch 26 knowledge domains in 15 cities across the world in Phase I Members comprise entrepreneurs, professionals and young leaders who aim to contribute and give back to society
DLC will focus on knowledge exchange, lifestyle guidance and social responsibility while building a support ecosystem for leaders globally Mumbai, June 26, 2021: Mr. Jimmy Mistry, innovator, design thinker and social entrepreneur announced the launch of Della Leaders Club – world’s first technology enabled global business platform designed to create a robust support system for leaders across industries globally. The platform was formally inaugurated in Lonavala on Saturday, June 12, 2021 in the virtual presence of Mr. Nitin Gadkari, the Hon’ble Minister for Road Transport & Highways and for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India, Mr. Aaditya Thackeray, the Cabinet Minister of Tourism and Environment for the Government of Maharashtra, along with business and domain leaders from across the world. Speaking at the launch, Mr. Nitin Gadkari said, “Knowledge is power and the conversion of knowledge into wealth is the future of this country. I congratulate my friend, Jimmy Mistry, who has launched the World’s 1st Business platform called Della Leaders Club (DLC) to help leaders in the post-pandemic world. The DLC platform will surely create a a new vision for the young leadership and entrepreneurship in the world.”
Mr. Aditya Thackeray lauded the new venture and commented, “My heartfelt congratulations to Jimmy Mistry on the setup of the Della Leaders Club. Kudos to your creativity! The World’s 1st Business Platform will connect organizations and bring the best of the world to our own country apart from social impact. Today with COVID, the biggest impact anyone can have is by way of job creation to sustain families and keep things going. I wish the DLC all the best.”
Being a first-generation entrepreneur, Jimmy strongly believes that modern leaders, especially in the post pandemic world, will benefit greatly from the knowledge and experiences from global leaders. His vision for DLC is to create an exclusive and secure global community of leaders that will help each other evolve from a life of success to a life of significance. “After designing for some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs, corporate professionals, celebrities and socialites over the last 25 years, I observed that they were hungry to learn and stay ahead of the curve. We live in a volatile world and I realised that leaders, across industries, need a support system that will empower them. This platform goes beyond just networking and focuses on knowledge development along with community outreach” said Mr. Mistry, Founder and Chairman of Della Leaders Club.
MIS-C had severely affected the 11-year-old child’s heart muscles, which were inflamed and unable to pump blood
He was successfully treated with ECMO (Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation), which is akin to heart-lung bypass machine used in open-heart surgery
The child is one of the rarest patients in India to be successfully treated with ECMO for MIS-C
KOCHI/ June 25, 2021: An 11-year-old boy suffering from severe heart failure and shock due to Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) was successfully treated at Amrita Hospital in Kochi with ECMO, which is akin to heart-lung bypass machine used in open-heart surgery, saving his life from the dreaded disease that appears to be linked to Covid-19. Amrita Hospital doctors are warning of a wave of MIS-C across South India which may hit children in a big way. Adhik’s case is an early warning of this, they say.
The child Adhik, hailing from Kedamangalam in Paravur (Ernakulam District), is one of the rarest patients in India to be put on ECMO (Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation) for MIS-C. ECMO pumps and oxygenates a patient’s blood outside the body, allowing the heart and lungs to rest. When a patient is connected to an ECMO, blood flows through tubing to an artificial lung in the machine that adds oxygen and takes out carbon dioxide; then the blood is warmed to body temperature and pumped back into the body. ECMO is today saving many patients from Covid-19 and post-Covid complications.
Adhik was referred to Amrita Hospital in a serious condition. He most likely had an asymptomatic Covid-19 or was exposed to Covid-19 in the weeks preceding to presentation as widened by positive antibody titers to Covid-19 in his blood. MIS-C had over the last one week severely affected his heart muscles, which were inflamed and unable to pump blood. His blood pressure had dropped to extremely low levels. The condition would have been fatal if not treated promptly. On arrival at the hospital, Amrita doctors put him on a ventilator without delay.
Said Dr. Suma Balan, Consultant Pediatrician and Pediatric Rheumatologist, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Amrita Hospital, Kochi: “Putting a very sick child with low blood pressure and poor heart on ventilator needs a high degree of skill and training from a Pediatric Intensivist. The child also required special lines to be inserted into his large veins, so that medicines to elevate his blood pressure could be safely administered without needing to prick him all the time. A line was also inserted in a peripheral artery to help monitor his blood pressure accurately.”
Added Dr. Sajith Kesavan, Head, Dept. of Pediatric Pulmonary & Critical Care, Amrita Hospitals, Kochi: “Immunomodulant medications to affect the functioning of the child patient’s immune system were also commenced. The main challenge was that the child was in very severe shock and not responding, despite being on a ventilator and being given medications to improve his shock. The immunomodulant medications which counter the increased inflammatory state take time to be administered. The patient needed to be supported and kept stable until those medicines have had a chance to work.”
He added: “A bedside echocardiogram was also arranged due to the severity of the child’s illness. However, the team soon realized that the child needed more medical attention, and it was decided that an ECMO would help his recovery. This machine takes over the heart-lung function. Putting the child on ECMO for a few days allowed rest to his heart muscles, giving them time to recover. This works very well in scenarios where there is a good possibility of natural recovery – and Adhik’s situation fit that bill.”
According to Dr. Mahesh K, Clinical Professor, Centre for Aortic Diseases & Marfan Syndrome, Pediatric Cardiology, Amrita Hospitals, Kochi, ECMO is not just about adding on another machine; it requires special lines to be attached from the patient to the machine and back, and many precautions to keep these lines sterile and flowing. He said: “This requires a significant financial commitment. The intensive care, immunomodulant therapy and the addition of ECMO increases treatment cost significantly, but the treating doctors knew this offered the best chance for Adhik.”
Dr. Mahesh K added: “The boy belongs to a middle-class family and raising a huge amount of money at a short notice isn’t easy. However, we were able to help them with some funding, and the family raised the rest. Amrita Hospital also gave a letter to the family to take it to the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC). The family and hospital management appreciate the ESIC for its quick response not only approving the treatment at Amrita Hospital but also approving the ECMO. This is the first time that ECMO has been approved at this centre by ESIC.”
Most children who become infected with COVID-19 virus have only a mild illness, but in children who go on to develop MIS-C due to the infection, some organs like the heart, lungs, blood vessels, kidneys, brain, etc. become severely inflamed. It is an immune system mediated hyper-inflammation targeting children and teenagers. More than 50% of patients develop heart problems.
Said Dr. Suma Balan: “Adhik has so far responded well to treatment. He was taken off ECMO after 72 hours. We were also able to take him off the ventilator two days later. He is out of intensive care now and continues to make steady progress. We are all positive and hopeful that the child will be back to a normal 11-year-old child’s routine in a few weeks.”
Appreciating the role of intensive care in saving Adhik’s life, Dr. Suma Balan added: “There is much apprehension in the public about Intensive Care for patients and the high costs involved. Intensive Care requires a very high standard of skill, protocols and decision making, all of which comes with a long period of training and experience. Many critical illnesses require multidisciplinary management for their various aspects, so expecting only one doctor to do everything is not practical. Others involved in intensive care, including the critical care nurses, the respiratory therapist, and various technicians, are all equally important. Intensive care also requires a huge number of disposables and many skilled tasks, that all go to keep the patient safe and cared for. That is why intensive care is expensive, and we should not demean that.”
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