Brief Summary of the work done on the research project entitled, “SPINK1 gene polymorphisms in chronic pancreatitis: An epidemiological study in Punjab.”

 18731subjects (with age range 18-75 years) of fourteen villages of kharar block ofMohali district were screened. Genomic DNA from whole blood of 602 adults (271 males & 331 females) werecollected and analyzed for polymorphisms of different genes (SPINK1, PRSS1 andADH3) using RFLP technique.

            SPINK1(serine peptidase inhibitor, Kazal type 1) gene encodes a trypsin inhibitor. Itis thought to have role in inhibition of trypsin-catalyzed, zymogens activationwithin pancreas. Mutations in this gene may be linked with pancreatitis. PRSS1(protease, serine, 1 (trypsin 1) gene encodes an enzyme called cationic trypsinogen. This enzyme is a serine peptidase that cleaves other proteins into smaller pieces. Mutations in PRSS1 gene may also be associated with pancreatitis. ADH3 (Alcohol Dehydrogenase) gene encodes class I alcohol dehydrogenase, gamma subunit, which is a member of alcohol dehydrogenase family. These occur in many organisms and help in inter-conversion between alcohols and aldehydes.

In the present study, SPINK1 N34S mutation was observed in 7 out of 597(1.17%) controls and 1 out of 5 (20%) chronic pancreatitis patients.  RFLP of 597 controls and 5 CP patients was done for PRSS1and only single band of size 911 bp was visible in these subjects, which represented the normal allele in all subjects. Percentage of ADH3*1/*1genotypic distribution was more than ADH3*1/*2 and ADH3*2/*2 in controls as well as CP patients.

Thus, reference values of different genes (SPINK1, PRSS1 and ADH3) have been established in healthy individuals of particular area in Punjab (fourteen villages of kharar block of Mohali district). These values can be used in future to compare the polymorphisms of these genes in diseased conditions such as chronic pancreatitis.

2013: Delivered ACBI-Prof. T.N. Pittabhiraman oration on “Non-invasive breath hydrogen tests for measurement of carbohydrates malabsorption, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and orocecal transit time in gastrointestinal diseases” during ACBICON 2013 held at Delhi from 3^rd -6^th December 2013.

2013: Invited by International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC) for the Task Force meeting on Impact of laboratory medicine on clinical management and outcome and 20^th European Congress of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine and the Task force meeting at Milan, Italy, between 19^th – 22^nd May, 2013.

2012:  Elected as Joint Secretary of ACBI (Association of Clinical Biochemists of India) during 39^thAnnual meeting of ACBI held from 11^th-14^th December, 2012.

2012:  Delivered ISG-CM Habibullah oration on “Hydrogen breath test: Significance and Consequences” at ISGCON 2012 held at Jaipur from 28^th November-2^nd December, 2012.

2012:  Abstract entitled “Carbon Tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in rats and wheatgrass.” JK  Kamboj, SV Rana, DK Dhawan, K Vahiphei was awarded 1^st prize by INASL on 1^st  Dec, 2012 during ISG conference at Jaipur held from 28^th November-2^nd December, 2012.

2012: Invited by International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC) for the Task Force meeting on Impact of laboratory medicine on clinical management and outcome and general conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia between 17^th – 20^th November, 2012.

2012:  Awarded Travel Grant to present my research work at Seoul International Digestive Disease Symposium (SIDDS) held on 22^nd -23^rd November, 2012 in Korea

2012:  Received Special award for research work by Indian National Association for Study of the Liver [INASL] held at Guwahati from 2^nd – 4^th March 2012.

·               Member of American Society of Nutrition

·               Convener, Chandigarh Chapter for Nutrition Society of India (1996–till date)

·               State Representative for Chandigarh elected by Association of Clinical    Biochemists of India (2001-till date).

·               Vice President of Nutrition Society of India since 2008-till 2012.

·               Joint Secretary of ACBI (Association of Clinical Biochemists of India) 2012-13

·               Have been elected Executive Council member of Association of Clinical Biochemists of India for the year 2012-13.

·               Co-opted member for Indian Society of Parenteral & Enteral Nutrition since 2009-till date.

·               Fellow of American College of Nutrition, USA.

·               Fellow of International College of Nutrition.

·               Member of National Academy of Medical Sciences, India.

·               Member of New York Academy of Science, USA.

·               Member of American Society of India, USA

·               Life member of Association of Scientists of Indian Origin in America.

·               Life member of Nutrition Society of India.

·               Life member of Laboratory Animals. 

·               Life member of Society of Biological Chemists.

·               Life member of International Federation of Clinical Chemistry

·               Life member of Laboratory Animal Science Association of India.

·               Life member of Association of Clinical Biochemists of India.

·               Life member of Indian Society of Gastroenterology.

·               Life member of Indian National Association for the Study of Liver.

·               Life member of Indian Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.

·               Life member of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Society of Asia.

·               Life member of Gastrointestinal Infection Society of India.

·               Life member of Indian Association of Biomedical Scientists.

·               Life member of Asian Neurogastroenterology and Motility Association (ANMA)‏ since 2008.

·               Executive Council Member of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (2005- 2007).

·               Executive Council Member, Association of Clinical Biochemists of India (1996-97).

·               Executive Council Member, Nutrition Society of India (1992-96).

Research Papers--- 131(International-87, National-44) 

Chapters in book---5,    Abstracts: 207,    General articles:  12

Conferences attended: International 25,   National 128