“Centre of Excellence in Biological Sciences (CORE-BS) Organizes 3-Day Hands-On Training Workshop on DNA Extraction and PCR”
Karachi, 21-23 January 2026,
Bahria University Health Sciences Campus Karachi (BUHSCK) successfully organized a three-day Hands-On Training Workshop on DNA Extraction and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) from 21st -23rd January 2026 under the umbrella of the Multidisciplinary Research Lab (MDRL). The workshop aimed to strengthen practical molecular biology skills among academia, industry, and government-sector professionals, fostering capacity building in modern biological sciences.
The training workshop attracted a diverse group of participants from academia, industrial laboratories, and government institutions, including University of Karachi, Dow University of Health Sciences, Ziauddin University, Salim Habib University, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST), Sindh Institute of Animal Health, Saifee Burhani University, Nazeer Hussain University, and host Bahria University Health Sciences Campus Karachi. This diverse participation reflected the growing national demand for hands-on expertise in molecular biology techniques.
The workshop commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by opening remarks by Prof. Dr. Mehreen Lateef, Principal Bahria University College of Allied Health Sciences (BUCAHS). In her welcome address, she appreciated the participants’ strong ambition to acquire practical skills and highlighted the central role of molecular biology across biological sciences, including microbiology, biotechnology, diagnostics, agriculture, and biomedical research. She further shared that Vice Admiral Abid Hameed HI (M), Rector Bahria University, envisions transforming the MDRL into a Centre of Research Excellence in Biological Sciences (CORE-BS) to promote interdisciplinary and translational research at national and international levels.
The technical skill workshop was spread over three intensive days, combining lectures with extensive hands-on laboratory sessions. On Day 1, participants were introduced to gene sequence retrieval and primer design, delivered by Ms. Sehar Khan, followed by a practical session on primer designing and reconstitution calculations led by Dr. Bilal Saleh. These sessions enabled participants to understand in silico sequence handling and experimental planning for PCR-based studies.
Day 2 focused on DNA extraction techniques, where Dr. Bilal Saleh and Ms. Sehar Khan delivered a detailed lecture on types of DNA extraction methods, followed by hands-on laboratory sessions at MDRL. Participants independently performed DNA isolation, gaining confidence in sample handling and protocol optimization.
On Day 3, participants attended a comprehensive lecture on PCR and its different types, followed by hands-on PCR amplification sessions, allowing them to integrate theoretical knowledge with real-time experimentation.
In the concluding session, Prof. Dr. Shazia Shakoor, Dean Health Sciences BUHSCK, emphasized that core molecular techniques such as DNA extraction and PCR are foundational for advanced applications, including drug design, vaccine development, molecular diagnostics, and biomedical research. She highlighted that hands-on exposure to such techniques is essential for producing industry-ready graduates and skilled researchers.
Participants highly appreciated the quality of training, laboratory exposure, and dedication of the organizing team, acknowledging that the workshop significantly enhanced their confidence. Many noted that they can now independently perform molecular techniques in their respective laboratories, including microbiology, biochemistry, molecular diagnostics, and pharmaceutical research, without relying on external molecular biology facilities.
Certificates of training were distributed among 50 participants, while shields of appreciation were presented to the organizers by the Director General BUHSCK.
In his concluding remarks, Vice Admiral (Retd.) Ather Mukhtar HI (M), Director General BUHSCK, appreciated the participation from diverse institutions and stated that CORE-BS is a shared national research asset. He emphasized that participants are encouraged to utilize CORE-BS facilities for collaborative research, adding that national progress in science depends on collective efforts and shared infrastructure. He further reaffirmed that BUHSCK will continue organizing such capacity-building training programs to strengthen Pakistan’s biotechnology and biomedical research ecosystem. The workshop concluded with a renewed commitment to collaborative research, skill development, and strengthening molecular biology capacity in Pakistan.
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