Indo-U.S. Bilateral Workshop Scheduled For April 27-29 Postponed

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (April 27, 2009) — The “Discovery Research Programme on Rare/Orphan Diseases: An Indo-U.S. Bilateral Workshop” scheduled for April 27-29, has been postponed until further notice.

“We have unfortunately just received word from our Indian delegation that United States visas were not approved for several high ranking conference participants,” said Marilyn Speedie, dean of the College of Pharmacy. “To show solidarity among their Indian colleagues, all of our Indian participants have cancelled their travel to Minnesota and have requested that we postpone the conference. Therefore we have postponed the conference planned for April 27-29. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank all who planned to participate for their interest in orphan diseases and the Indo-U.S. relationship.”

Organized by the Center for Orphan Drug Research, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota and the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology Hyderabad, the conference was designed to address current scientific research in India and the U.S. pertaining to global development of drugs and biologics for rare diseases. More than 110 experts across academia and regulatory agencies were registered to present drug discovery, global clinical research and scientific working groups during the three-day conference.

Speedie said that upon consultation with key participants in both countries a rescheduled conference would be considered. “We are extremely disappointed with this turn of events,” she said. “It is delaying valuable collaborative efforts and squandering real potential for cooperation in fighting disease and improving health across the globe.”

Media contact:
Amy Leslie, 612-624-7654, johns423@umn.edu

The College of Pharmacy, the only school of pharmacy in Minnesota, offers its program on the Twin Cities and Duluth campuses. Founded in 1892, the College of Pharmacy educates pharmacists and scientists and engages in research and practice to improve the health of the people of Minnesota and society. The college is part of the Academic Health Center, which is home to the University of Minnesota’s six health professional schools and colleges as well as several health-related centers and institutes. Learn more at www.pharmacy.umn.edu.