The Department of Zoology and the Department of Biotechnology, Lady Doak College, Madurai organized the Whitin Endowment Lecture Series on 06th August, 2024, on the topic “Intellectual Property Rights and Bioethics”. About 230 participants including faculty, students and research scholars of life science departments attended the program.
Dr. A. P. A. Rani, Associate Professor, Department of Zoology, served as the organizing secretary for the program. Dr. Priyatharsini Rajendran, Associate Professor and Head, Department of Zoology, welcomed the gathering. Dr. R. Beulah Jeyashree, Principal and Secretary, Lady Doak College delivered the introductory remarks.
The keynote speakers for the session were Dr. A. J. Asirvatham, Consultant Diabetologist, Arthur Asirvatham Hospital, Madurai and Dr. Bhanumathi R., Deputy Controller of Patents & Designs Patent Office, Chennai. Dr. A.J. Asirvatham spoke on the importance of Ethics in Human Research. He emphasized the need for good clinical practices for reliable data and for avoiding costly litigation. He also mentioned that it is the responsibility of the Institutional Ethics Committee to safeguard the rights, confidentiality and well being of the trial subjects.
“Research performed unethically is a crime” quoted Dr. A.J. Asirvatham. Dr. Bhanumathi R. spoke about IPR in Life Sciences. Dr. Bhanumathi R. discussed in detail about the different types of IPR including patents, designs, trademark, copyright, geographical indications and trade secret. She emphasized the importance of patents in bringing better innovation, benefitting the inventor and the public.