International Conference on Reproductive Health with emphasis on

Occupational, Environmental and Lifestyle Factors

& 26th

Annual Meeting of the Indian Society for the Study of Reproduction

& Fertility

February 18

The International Conference on Reproductive Health with emphasis on

Occupational, Environmental & Lifestyle Factors and the 26

Indian Society for the Study of Reproduction and Fertility (

organized by the National Institut

during 18-20 February, 2016,

The objectives of the conference

Environmental and Lifestyle

deliberate on recent advances in basic, clinical, socio

research related to reproductive health.

themes such as Environment, Occupation a

Reproductive Stress; Fertility and Infertility Regulation

Reproductive Toxicology; Maternal and Child Health

Reproductive Endocrinology

Adolescent Reproductive Health

Reproductive Technologies

The inaugural function of the conference was held in the

am on February 18th

, 2016.

welcome address. Prof. N. K. Lohiya

welcome to dignitaries, delegates &

various activities of the Society.

Director General, ICMR delivered a Key

inaugurated by the Chief Guest

Medical Education, Family Welfare, Roads & Building, Capital Project, Govt. of

Gujarat. The proceedings of the conference ICRH

ISSRF Newsletter on Environmental Impact

Elsevier’s Journal of Reproductive Health and Medicine (JRHM), Volume 2, Number

1 - an official publication

hindi book entitled “वातावरणीय

Golden Jubilee Edition of

ENVIS-NIOH Centre entitled “Ma

and “Health Hazards of Mobile Phones and Towers”

nternational Conference on Reproductive Health with emphasis on

Occupational, Environmental and Lifestyle Factors

Annual Meeting of the Indian Society for the Study of Reproduction

& Fertility (ICRH: ISSRF-2016)

February 18-20, 2016, NIOH, Ahmedabad

The International Conference on Reproductive Health with emphasis on

Occupational, Environmental & Lifestyle Factors and the 26th

Annual Meeting of the

Indian Society for the Study of Reproduction and Fertility (ICRH: ISSRF

by the National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH)

20 February, 2016, coinciding with its Golden Jubilee Celebration

of the conference were to highlight the role of Occupational,

and Lifestyle Factors on male and female reproduction and

recent advances in basic, clinical, socio-behavioral and operational

research related to reproductive health. The scientific program comprised

themes such as Environment, Occupation and Reproductive Health

Fertility and Infertility Regulation; Reproductive Tract Cancers

Maternal and Child Health; RTI/STI including HIV/AIDS

Reproductive Endocrinology; Reproductive Ageing; Pre-Term Birth Defects

Adolescent Reproductive Health; Assisted Reproductive Technologies

Reproductive Technologies; Ethical, Legal and Social Issues in Reproductive Health.

of the conference was held in the NIOH audito

, 2016. Dr. Sunil Kumar, Director-in-Charge, NIOH delivered

Prof. N. K. Lohiya, President - ISSRF also extended a cordial

welcome to dignitaries, delegates & guests and provided a brief introduction about

various activities of the Society. Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Secretary, DHR and

Director General, ICMR delivered a Key-note address. The conference was

inaugurated by the Chief Guest Shri Nitinbhai Patel, Hon'ble Minister of Health,

Medical Education, Family Welfare, Roads & Building, Capital Project, Govt. of

. The proceedings of the conference ICRH: ISSRF-2016, 18

ISSRF Newsletter on Environmental Impacts on Reproductive Health, and

Journal of Reproductive Health and Medicine (JRHM), Volume 2, Number

publication of the ISSRF were formally released on the occasion.

वातावरणीय �दषूण जीवन शैल� एव ं �जनन �वा��य

Jubilee Edition of hindi magazine of NIOH “दशना” and Newsletters of

NIOH Centre entitled “Manganese: Occupational and Environmental Health”

and “Health Hazards of Mobile Phones and Towers” were also released.

1

nternational Conference on Reproductive Health with emphasis on

Occupational, Environmental and Lifestyle Factors

Annual Meeting of the Indian Society for the Study of Reproduction

The International Conference on Reproductive Health with emphasis on

Annual Meeting of the

ISSRF-2016) was

e of Occupational Health (NIOH), Ahmedabad

Golden Jubilee Celebrations.

to highlight the role of Occupational,

Factors on male and female reproduction and to

behavioral and operational

comprised with major

nd Reproductive Health; Lifestyle and

Reproductive Tract Cancers;

RTI/STI including HIV/AIDS;

Term Birth Defects;

Assisted Reproductive Technologies; Live Stock

Ethical, Legal and Social Issues in Reproductive Health.

auditorium at 09.00

, NIOH delivered

ISSRF also extended a cordial

guests and provided a brief introduction about

, Secretary, DHR and

The conference was

le Minister of Health,

Medical Education, Family Welfare, Roads & Building, Capital Project, Govt. of

2016, 18th

issue of the

on Reproductive Health, and the

Journal of Reproductive Health and Medicine (JRHM), Volume 2, Number

were formally released on the occasion. A

�वा��य along with

and Newsletters of

se: Occupational and Environmental Health”

were also released.

2

On behalf of ISSRF, Dr. S. K. Gupta, Deputy Director, National Institute of

Immunology, New Delhi and Prof. Suneeta Mittal, Director & Head, Department of

Obstetrics & Gynecology, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon and Dr. A. K.

Srivastava, Director, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Deemed University,

Karnal (couldn’t receive the award personally) were felicitated for Lifetime

Achievement Award for their outstanding contributions to reproductive health

3

research during inaugural ceremony. Also, former Directors of NIOH and Officer-in-

Charge of Regional Occupational Health Centre (S), Bengaluru and Regional

Occupational Health Centre (E), Kolkata were honoured. Hon’ble Shri Nitinbhai

Patel complimented the NIOH for celebrating its Golden Jubilee and ISSRF for

having chosen most appropriate theme of the conference befitting with the mandate of

the Institute relevant to current needs of the Society.

The scientific program of three days conference included three plenary lectures, three

memorial orations, and presentations by young scientists as Prof. G. P. Talwar & Prof.

N. R. Moudgal awardees. Besides these, invited speakers delivered their talks and

delegates gave platform presentations. Hence, there was a feast of scientific

deliberations from eminent scientists & clinicians attending the conference from

different premier institutions, universities, hospitals of India and abroad such as USA,

Germany, Thailand, and Nepal. Around 300 scientists, academicians, professionals,

clinicians, research scholars and guests participated in this conference.

The first plenary lecture was delivered by Padma Bhushan Prof. G P Talwar,

Former Founder Director – NII & Director Research, Talwar Research Foundation, on

DNA vaccine as primer followed by proteins are highly immunogenic for antibody

titres against hCG employing a recombinant vaccine for potential control of fertility. The second day scientific program begin with the plenary lecture entitled

Environment related reproductive health issues in India: Need for a comprehensive and objective approach by Dr. V. M. Katoch, Former Secretary, Department of

Health Research, MoHFW-GoI and Former Director General, Indian Council of

Medical Research, New Delhi. The plenary lecture entitled Designer animals and

determinants for reproductive health management was delivered by Dr. M. L.

Madan, Former Chairman, Livestock Sub-group, Haryana Farmer's Commission,

beginning with the last day scientific program. The scientific gathering enjoyed &

greatly appreciated presentations by these stalwarts.

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After a long day scientific deliberations, the delegates enjoyed the colourful cultural

programme in the form of seven scenes of Gujarati Garba and dances presented by

Niyati Sanskrutik Parivar. The scene played were as diya dance which is the aradhna

of “amba” ma, Jugulbandi of Ghada and Tipni, hudo dance (kutchi dance), dandia ras,

Gujarati Garba with Tali, Chapti and music, sant or spring dance and the last scene

was Jay Garvi Gujarat, as tribute to the nation composed by Shri AR Rahman. On

behalf of all the delegates, the President – ISSRF complimented the entire team of

artists for making the evening memorable and the organizers for arranging this

beautiful event. The programme was followed by exotic dinner.

The prestigious founder president Dr. T. C. Anand Kumar Memorial Oration was

delivered by Dr. Pradeep Kumar G, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology,

Trivendrum on Differential display proteomics of spermatozoa: our leads in

understanding male factor infertility. A tribute to Prof. Moudgal was paid in the form

of Prof. N. R. Moudgal Memorial Oration by Prof. N. K. Lohiya, University of

Rajasthan, Jaipur entitled Four decades of research on male contraception – current

status & future challenges and Prof. Chandana Halder, Banaras Hindu University,

5

Varanasi delivered Prof. L. S. Ramaswami Memorial Oration on the topic

Melatonin in management of male reproductive health.

The Labhsetwar Award introduced by Drs. Anant and Lata Charitable Trust, Nagpur

and Labhsetwar Foundation USA was shared by three eminent scientists namely Dr.

M. S. Chauhan, NDRI, Karnal, Dr. Sunil Kumar, NIOH, Ahmedabad and Dr. G.

Taru Sharma, IVRI, Izatnagar. Prof. G.P. Talwar Gold Medal Award for Middle

Career Scientist was shared by Prof. Savita Yadav, AIIMS, New Delhi and Dr.

Suresh Yenugu, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad and Young Scientist Awards

were received by Dr. Rajesh Kumar Jha, CDRI, Lucknow and Dr. Sumit Agarwal,

NII, New Delhi. Prof. N. R. Moudgal Young Scientist Awards were conferred on

Dr. Deepali Sundrani, BV University, Pune and Ms. Swati Prakash Ahir, NIRRH,

Mumbai. All awardees gave presentations highlighting their ongoing research

activities.

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The ISSRF Executive Committee and General Body meetings were held on 19th

February, 2016. A tribute to Prof. R. R. Chaudhury was paid by observing two

minutes silence. The ISSRF activities in terms of bringing out newsletter (s),

promoting publication of JRHM and holding mid-term activities as National

Workshops on Reproductive Health Awareness / annual meetings along with

International / National Conference on Reproductive Health were greatly appreciated.

It was resolved to organize the 27th

Annual Meeting along with International

Conference on Reproductive Health at the ICMR Headquarter, Dr. R. S. Sharma as

its Organizing Secretary, during February, 2017. Dr. Sunil Kumar along with his

organizing team of the ICRH: ISSRF-2016 event was complimented for excellent

scientific progamme and relevant arrangements with memorable hospitality.

The participation of eminent scientists and researchers from different parts of the

country and abroad who shared their experiences and knowledge, either to deliver an

invited lecture or as chairperson were: Dr. V. M. Katoch, Lucknow; Dr. Smita

Mahale, NIRRH, Mumbai; Dr. Hari Goyal, Tuskegee University, AL, USA; Dr.

Surendra Sharma, Brown University, RI, USA; Dr. A. H. Bandivdekar, NIRRH,

Mumbai; Dr. Palarp Sinhaseni, CBRARDC, Bangkok; Dr. Henry Alexander,

University of Leipzig, Germany; Dr. Kiran Katoch, Jaipur; Dr. Suneeta Mittal,

Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon; Dr. Dheer Singh, NDRI, Karnal; Dr.

M. V. Rao, GU, Ahmedabad; Dr. Akhileshwari Nath, SS Hospital & Res. Inst.,

Patna; Dr. J. P. Jani, Celprogen Inc., California, USA; Dr. Kiran Guleria, Guru Teg

Bahadur Hospital, Delhi; Dr. P. K. Mishra, NIREH, Bhopal; Dr. Anil Suri, NII,

New Delhi; Dr. Geeta R. Vanage, NIRRH, Mumbai; Dr. Jayanti M. Pramanik,

NIRRH, Mumbai; Dr. Vikas D. Dighe, NIRRH, Mumbai; Dr. Sriram Seshadri,

Nirma University, Ahmedabad; Dr. S. N. Kabir, Kolkata; Dr. Hyacinth Highland,

Gujarat University, Ahmedabad; Dr. Anju Jain, Lady Hardinge Medical College and

Associated Hospitals, New Delhi; Dr. Rajender Singh, CDRI, Lucknow; Dr. R. S.

Sharma, ICMR, New Delhi; Dr. Malini Laloraya, RGCB, Trivendram; Dr. Ajit

Saxena, AIIMS, Patna; Dr. Vengala Rao Yenuganti, LIFBN, Germany; Dr. Rita

Singh, University of Delhi, New Delhi; Dr. A. S. Ansari, RU, Jaipur; Dr. Sarman

Singh, AIIMS, New Delhi; Dr. Subhrajit Biswas, ILBS, New Delhi; Dr. J. Behari,

New Delhi.

Around 54 invited lectures were presented, during parallel sessions of 3 day

conference, by eminent scientists covering different aspects of reproductive health.

The scholars, based on quality of the abstract submitted, were encouraged to give oral

presentations. In all eight oral presentations and 186 posters were presented during the

conference. The posters were assessed by a committee of experts. Twelve posters

were identified, based on importance of the theme, highlights of research outcome,

quality of display & potential to explain the observations and recommended for Best

Poster presentation awards. The recipients of Best Poster Presentation Awards were:

Manika Kala, Nirma University, Ahmedabad; Riddhi Thake, NIOH, Ahmedabad;

Mudra H Kansara, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad; M B Narechania, Gujarat

University, Ahmedabad; Sharad Bhagat, NIRRH, Mumbai; Bharat Patel, NIOH,

Ahmedabad; Jyoti Bala Kaushal, CSIR-CDRI, Lucknow; Seema Kadam, NIRRH,

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Mumbai; Ananya Nema, Manipal University, Manipal; Ankit N Shroff, NIRRH,

Mumbai; Tushar Sharma, ICAR-NDRI, Karnal and Ruchi Sharma, PGIMER,

Chandigarh. The awardees were felicitated during valedictory function.

The Valedictory Function of the conference was held on 20th

February 2016 at 05.45

pm. Shri Vijay Kumar Rupani, Hon’ble Minster of Transport, Water Supply,

Labour & Employment, Govt. of Gujarat was the Chief Guest and Prof. Surendra

Sharma, Brown University, Rhode Island, USA presided over the function. Dr. Sunil

Kumar delivered the welcome address. Prof. N. K. Lohiya illustrated the

observations of the conference. Dr. S. S. A. Zaidi, Organizing Secretary presented the

conference report. Honorable minister spoke about the importance of reproductive

health research in relation to occupational health and emphasized on successful

translation of laboratory technology to workers in the fields. Further, he highlighted

various issues of occupational and environmental health and suggested to chalk out

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translational programmes to minimize exposure at workplace in collaboration with

Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH), Govt. of Gujarat during his

valedictory speech. Shri P. B. Doctor, Organizing Secretary proposed a vote of

thanks. He conveyed hearty thanks to each and everyone contributed in the successful

organization of the ISSRF-ICRH-2016 event.

Recommendations:

The following recommendations emerged out of the deliberations and discussions of

the 3 day conference.

1. The occupational, environmental and lifestyle factors are evidently prominent in

influencing reproductive health of the people.

2. The research outcome should reach to the common men in terms of awareness to

prevent adverse effects, suggest options of the treatment modalities based on

recent advances.

3. The new tools/gadgets should be developed to minimize

occupational/environmental exposures at work place.

4. Alternative devices / methodologies / regulations for periodical monitoring to

reduce human sufferings be given priority in health management programmes.