National seminar 'Biospark-24' sheds light on how AI is transforming biochemical research

Did you know Ayurveda was benefitting from Artificial Intelligence (AI)? The penetration of AI into traditional medicine and even in the field of diagnostics was highlighted during a one-day national seminar hosted by the Department of Medical Biochemistry in the School of Medical Education at Gandhinagar in Kottayam that functions under the Centre for Professional and Advanced Studies.

The annual seminar called 'Biospark-24' was titled, 'Biochemistry Learning and Practice: Changing Trends and Scope'. It focused on the advancements made in biochemical and healthcare research among other topics that were handled by four experts.

Dr Asish G R, Senior Scientist, R&D, Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda Research Institute, Thrissur handled a session that delved into the unheralded biochemical research happening in the field of Ayurveda.

According to Dr Asish, the use of AI in Ayurveda is far more profound, as it helps to enhance the purity of components and negate adulteration. "For example, take the case of Danthapala leaf," said Dr Asish. "There is a lot of adulteration in it and as a result, we don't get the optimum pointing component. So we have developed a technology to identify the exact leaf based on the size with the help of the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT). When we use the specific scanner, it will only identify Danthapala and no other leaf."

Such breakthrough in the use of AI is, however, not limited to Ayurveda as explained by Dr Riju Mathew, Assistant Director, Manager for Laboratory, Quality & Risk, Believers Church Medical College Hospital, Thiruvalla.

Dr Mathew said the field of diagnostics was at a crucial juncture with regards to using AI and once that was implemented, even as manpower will be reduced, the impact would be phenomenal. "Besides identifying, loading and testing the biological samples of an individual, AI will be able to interpret his/her health condition, perhaps more efficiently than a doctor would once the requisite parameters are uploaded," said Dr Mathew.

The importance of treating biomedical research more seriously for the betterment of the healthcare sector in Kerala was addressed by Dr Sreekanth K Sivaraman, Head of Molecular Biology, Sree Gokulam Medical College and Research Foundation, Thiruvananthapuram and Dr Renjith P Nair, Scientist C, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram.

Dr Nair opined that there was a reluctance, specifically in Kerala, to consider research as a career path. He was referring to the healthcare sector in particular. He said it was a misconception that leading a career as a researcher wasn't a financially viable path. Dr Sivaraman called for the need to strike a balance between clinical and non-clinical medical education. His emphasis was on utilising the expertise of non-clinical faculty members, with in-depth theoretical knowledge, in medical education and not solely relying on those in the clinical stream.

The seminar drew the participation of over 200 students and researchers, who presented posters and papers. Jayachandran TP, Joint Director, SME, inaugurated the seminar hosted in association with SBI, Gandhinagar. Dr Jugan J, Principal, SME, Gandhinagar, Suma V Madhavan, Vice-Principal & IQAC Coordinator, SME and Raji KV, Head of Medical Biochemistry Department attended the function. Albert Sam Sukumaran was the student coordinator of Biospark-24.