The 29th Annual Conference of the Association of Medical Biochemists of India (AMBI) was held at Moongate Resort, Chikkajala, Bengaluru, from 21st to 23rd July 2022. The event was organized by Dr. V. Govindaraju (Head Office and Organizing Secretary) and Dr. K. Shanthi Naidu (Secretary General and Organizing Committee Chairperson). A three-day pre-conference workshop ran from 18th to 20th July 2022, setting the stage for the main event.

The AMBI headquarters team was supported by Dr. Prashanth Vishwanath (President Elect & Scientific Chairman) and Dr. Anitha Devanath (Joint Secretary, Co-Organizing Secretary & Treasurer).

As part of the conference, nine parallel pre-conference workshops were conducted over three days, focusing on Advanced Molecular Techniques in Biochemistry. These sessions were designed to train and raise awareness among young biochemists—particularly postgraduates, senior residents, and junior faculty. Conceptualized by Dr. Shanthi Naidu and Dr. Govindaraju, and implemented under the guidance of Dr. Vishwanath and Dr. Devanath, the workshops combined theory with hands-on training in specialized areas. A total of 138 participants attended, with transport arranged to shuttle them between the conference venue and workshop sites across Bengaluru.

Highlights of the Pre-Conference Workshops

1. Basic Molecular Biology – Held at M.S. Ramaiah Medical College and sponsored by Eppendorf. Topics included DNA isolation, primer design, PCR & qPCR, gel electrophoresis, and nanodrop quantification.
2. Newborn & Prenatal Screening – Conducted at Vani Vilas Women and Children Hospital and M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, sponsored by Perkin Elmer & Metasystems. Covered newborn screening, prenatal marker tests, karyotyping, and FISH.
3. Molecular Diagnostics – Organized at NCBS, Bengaluru, sponsored by Prema Life Sciences. Sessions included PCR/qPCR, sample & library preparation, Sanger sequencing, and Next Generation Sequencing.
4. LCMS/MS Techniques – Hosted by SCIEX Bengaluru. Focused on mass spectrometry basics, Triple Quad workflows, quantification methods, and HRMS applications.
5. Flow Cytometry – Conducted at St. John’s Medical College Hospital, sponsored by BD LifeSciences. Topics ranged from basics and quality control to multicolour panel design, cell cycle studies, apoptosis, and clinical applications in leukemia, lymphoma, and immunodeficiency.
6. Molecular Biology Basics – Held at NIMHANS, sponsored by AMBI HQ. Covered DNA isolation, primer design, PCR/qPCR, and gel electrophoresis.
7. Advanced Molecular Genetics – Organized at the Center of Human Genetics, Bengaluru. Sessions included karyotyping, FISH for aneuploidies and cancer syndromes, drug-induced breakage studies, and spectral karyotyping.
8. Neurochemistry Techniques – Conducted at NIMHANS, sponsored by AMBI HQ. Focused on molecular methods applied in neurochemistry, including DNA isolation, PCR/qPCR, and gel electrophoresis.
9. CRISPR & Bioinformatics – Hosted at Microbiological Laboratory, Bengaluru, sponsored by Thermo Scientific. Topics included CRISPR, sequencing methods, and bioinformatics applications.

Conference Proceedings

The conference theme, “Building Tomorrow’s Leaders by the Young Generation,” emphasized the role of young scientists, postgraduates, fellows, and junior consultants. The event drew around 450 academicians from leading institutions across India.

After three intensive days of workshops, the conference opened with the Dr. Akhouri S. Sinha Oration, delivered by Dr. Navjot Kaur Bajwa (President, AMBI; Prof. & Head of Biochemistry, Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana). This was followed by a keynote address, “Cardiology in a Crystal Ball,” by Dr. P. Krishnam Raju (Cardiologist, Care Hospitals, Hyderabad).

The inauguration was graced by Dr. Srinath Reddy (President, Public Health Foundation of India; Former HoD, Cardiology, AIIMS, New Delhi) and Dr. K.S. Ravindranath (Former Vice-Chancellor, RGUHS; Chief Cardiologist, Jayadeva Institute of Cardiac Sciences, Bengaluru). During the ceremony, Dr. Prashanth Vishwanath was installed as the new President of AMBI.

Orations

• Dr. S. Gopalakrishnan Oration – “Dyslipidaemia and Coronary Artery Disease in the Indian Scenario” by Dr. C.N. Manjunath (Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology, Bengaluru).
• Dr. Ajith Singh Saini Oration – “Glutamate Receptor Subtypes and Molecular Signaling in Glioblastoma Growth” by Dr. Nandakumar D.N. (Prof. & Head, Neurochemistry, NIMHANS).
• Dr. C. Sitadevi Oration – “Cellular and Biochemical Mechanisms Underlying Neurodevelopmental Disorders” by Dr. Raghu Padinjat (NCBS, Bengaluru).
• Dr. B. Sadasivudu Oration – “Role of Metabolic Biochemists in Diagnosing Inborn Errors of Metabolism” by Dr. Radha Ramadevi (Rainbow Children Hospital, Hyderabad).
• Dr. Sheela Devi Kodliwadmath Oration – “Digital Resources in Teaching, Learning, and Assessment of Medical Biochemistry” by Dr. Pragna Rao (Advisor, Manipal Global Education Services, Bengaluru).

Scientific Sessions

Across three auditoriums, parallel sessions covered diverse topics in laboratory medicine, medical education, quality control, and genetics. The program also included poster and paper presentations along with a quiz competition for postgraduates, making the conference both intellectually stimulating and interactive.