The fourth international conference on "Innovative Biological and Public Health Research" has kicked off at the Government College University Lahore under the auspices of its Zoology Department.

University of Baltistan, Skardu Vice Chancellor Prof. Muhammad Naeem Khan chaired inaugural session of the conference which was also addressed by GCU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Asghar Zaidi and Zoology Department Chairperson Prof. Dr. Muhammad Tahir.

About 400 participants from 42 Universities are participating in the conferences besides foreign speakers from USA, Netherland and Turkey.

In his address, Prof. Naeem Khan said whole of the humanity is looking towards young scientists to fight the new challenges, diseases and viruses. He said GCU is giving tremendous leadership to the universities of Pakistan in all areas from science to art and culture.  He shared his views about the role of scientific conferences in promoting research culture and academia-industry link to uplift the life standards of masses.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Zaidi welcomed the invited dignitaries and strongly encouraged the young researchers to come forward and play role in Zoological sciences and public health research.

Prof. Asghar Zaidi announced "Prof. Dr. Nazir Ahmad Gold Medal” and research grant of 0.50 million rupees" for the Best Zoologist of the year. “The gold medal and research grant is sponsored by family of late Prof. Dr. Nazir Ahmad. The medal and grant will be conferred to the Best Zoologist in next IBPHR conference,” he said. 

Prof. Dr. Michael Richardson from Leiden University, Netherland delivered facts on evolution of snakes and co-evolution of their prey.  Prof. Dr. Kimberly Hammad-Schifferly from University of Massachusetts Boston, USA delivered his research on Exploiting the Nano-bio interface for low-cost infectious disease diagnostics. Prof. Dr. Zeliha Selamoglu from Turkey delivered insightful lecture on Apitherapy Applications on Women’s Health and Benefits of Hayit Honey. Lastly, Prof. Dr. Nusrat Jahan of GCU Lahore presented her research on Semi-field evaluation of Wolbachia potential for population replacement of dengue vector Aedes aegypti from Lahore, Pakistan.

Lastly, two lectures were delivered by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Khalid Mukhtar, University of Sargodha and Prof. Dr. Muhammad Irfan Khan from International Islamic University Islamabad.