Reproductive biological research has many prospects

As the President of the 3rd Asia Reproductive Biotechnology Conference held in Vietnam, Dr. Bui Xuan Nguyen, Head of Reproductive and Development Biology Department, Institute of Biotechnology said that the birth Vietnamese reproductive education has not been adequately invested, but there have been research results updating laboratories around the world and ahead of some countries in the region.

The following is the content of the interview of Dr. Bui Xuan Nguyen for electronic People Newspaper before the Conference.

* Could you tell us some details about the 3rd Asia Reproductive Biology Conference organized by Vietnam?

- As the host country of this Conference, the Organizing Committee has tried to offer programs that attract not only Asian scientists, but also leading scientists and experts of European and American countries in the The field is at the center of the century such as stem cell technology, cloning, bioinformatics, nano-technology in biomedical research and application.

Dr. Bui Xuan Nguyen (left) and Dr. Jean-Chartes Maillard (France) have coordinated successful replication of Sao la embryos in 2005. (Photo: ND)

There are nearly 200 participants in the Conference, of which 90 scientists from 13 countries and territories: Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Thailand, India, Singapore, Australia, England, France , USA, Italy, Hungary.

The overall objective of the Conference is to promote scientific research and development cooperation in the field of reproductive technology and interdisciplinary activities in the rapidly developing Asian region, but the science and technology level in this field is very different.

The conference will have a discussion session on the action program to develop science and technology cooperation in the region, and is an opportunity for us to develop quality action programs in the fields of science and technology mentioned above.

In addition, this is also a very good opportunity for many Vietnamese scientists and students to meet international scientists and experts.

In terms of organization, the Organizing Committee has prepared the conditions of international standards of halls, documents, held a direct scientific discussion in English, exhibited technology products. The organizers have also received the support of domestic science equipment firms to prepare technology demonstration sessions and finance living expenses during the conference for talented students. conditions for attending the conference.

* Vietnam participated in the 3rd Conference with notable discussions, sir?

- Within three days, the conference only had enough time to listen to 32 scientific reports at the conference hall and a board report session with 57 posters. Vietnam has six hall reports, including four reports from Vietnamese experts working abroad and 25 reports hanging. Among the main reports in the hall, it is worth noting that the report of Dr. Nguyen Van Thuan (working at Riken Institute - Japan) on transcription mechanism in cloned embryos; the report of Dr. Phan Toan Thang (working in Singapore) on umbilical cord stem cells, is a work of copyright registration in the US; report of Dr. Nguyen Viet Tien about IVF and infertility treatment.

I will report on potential reproductive technology models in biomedical research and treatment (biodiversity protection, HIV research, cancer).

In addition, there are short reports and hanging reports of research groups at the Institute of Biotechnology, Tu Du Hospital, National Institute of Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi University of Natural Sciences, Dai Ho Chi Minh University of Natural Sciences, National Institute of Animal Husbandry, studies on stem cells and reproductive techniques.

* As a scientist with important researches on asexual reproduction, what do you comment on the level of Vietnam in this area?

- In the field of this technology, although it has not been invested adequately, but we have had some research results to update the laboratories around the world and ahead of some countries in the region.

We also have outstanding studies such as the results of the first embryo transplant in 1978, the world's first successful animal embryos rapid freezing technique in 1983, IVF techniques and creation. animals with selective sex in 2002, creating animal embryos by cloning in 1998, the first step in creating embryonic stem cells in 2005 (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology); implementing IVF fertilization to treat infertility in people with a high success rate of over 30% (Central Obstetrics Institute, Tu Du Hospital).

However, the number of Vietnamese scientists operating in this field is not as large as in other countries. In addition, in terms of quality, in addition to a number of scientists and technology with really updated levels and international level, the gap is generally very large.

* What do you think Vietnam needs to do to promote scientific research, especially in the field of cloning?

- In order to catch up with the world in this field as well as in other fields, there should be a certain number of qualified and resilient scientists and at the same time the necessary working conditions such as information, equipment, infrastructure, and operational mechanisms really promote their capabilities. Although there are certain achievements, we will still be behind regional countries such as Korea and China because they have very specific development strategies and plans.

In particular, the field of cloning and reproductive biotechnology has very ordinary problems: needing a working area to meet the technology needs; need State budget and investment, take advantage of international cooperation to transfer and train science and technology for Vietnam; How can young science staff be able to pursue science and technology while income from wages is still limited .

* In 2005, he successfully cloned the star embryo in a joint project between the Government of Vietnam and France named French Biodiva. Could you please reveal your current research intentions?

- I have the advantage of having close cooperation with leading international scientists in the field of reproductive technology for many years and that has facilitated the penetration of technologies. this into Vietnam.

We now have all the basic technologies of preserving and promoting animal biodiversity. Aspiration ahead of me, but it is also necessary and can be done right now is to apply these technologies to build a system to combine ex situ conservation (cold banks, reproductive techniques, rescue area) with in situ conservation to protect emergency genetic resources at risk of extinction and support sustainable development.

In the long run, my desire is to do something that contributes to understanding and treating critical diseases.

* Thank you, Dr.!

HONG VAN performed