KARACHI: The first ever Clinical Transplant Immunology Laboratory of the country aimed to bring advancement in the field of transplant sciences was inaugurated at Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) here on Thursday, said a press statement. “Internationally acclaimed transplant immunologist Professor Medhat Askar inaugurated the newly set up laboratory which will focus on the subject of tissue typing, detection of antibodies, transplant of highly sensitised incompatible transplants, thereby, helping patients whose transplant is often not possible.” Professor Medhat, who is the Director of Transplant Immunology Center at the prestigious Baylor University of Dallas -Texas, earlier took part in a memorial lecture organised in memory of Dr Qasim Mehdi of SIUT. His lecture was focused on the importance of continued medical education and training in the field of transplant sciences, both in clinical and medical research sectors. The topic of his lecture was ‘Two Birds with One Stone’ which also discussed the emerging trends in field transplantation including application of pharmacogenomics as a tool for precise transplant medicine. His lecture was followed by a question-answer session. Paying tributes to late Dr Qasim Mehdi during the memorial lecture, the founder Director of SIUT Professor Adib Rizvi recalled Dr Mehdi’s services during his stay at SIUT. He pointed out that Dr Mehdi was a prominent member of the World Human Genome project of the region who performed pioneering work on evolutionary genetics in Pakistan. Dr Shagufta Khaliq who had a long association with Dr Mehdi gave a laudatory citation and recounted his achievements in the field of genetics and diversity of genes in Pakistani population. Published in Daily Times, March 16th 2018.