Past Events

Report of the 1st National Conference of Gastrointestinal Infection Society of India

The Microbiology Division of the Department of Superspecialty of Gastroenterology hosted the 1 National Conference on Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal infections on Jan 13-14, 2007 at Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh. The conference was organized by Dr. Chetana Vaishnavi, Addl. Professor (GE Microbiology). The conference was inaugurated by Prof. R.C. Sobti, Vice Chancellor, Punjab University who delivered the keynote address. A total of 300 microbiologists, gastroenterologists, basic scientists and private practitioners from all over the country participated in the conference. Some of the eminent speakers during the conference were Prof. V.M. Katoch, Dr. Rama Chaudhury, Prof. A. Ayyagari, Prof. A.K. Jain, Prof. M.P. Sharma and Prof. P. Kar. Almost all aspects of the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal infections were discussed.

Report of 2nd Biennial Conference of Gastrointestinal Infection Society of India

The 2 Biennial Conference of Gastrointestinal infection society of India (GISI) was inaugurated on 13 March 2010 by the Hon'ble Finance minister of the government of Punjab, S. Manpreet Singh Badal. In his address he stressed on the need to inculcate a sense of nation building at an individual level. He cited various examples quoting widely from history both from India and abroad, where people with principles and dedication served the nation and are remembered even to this day. He also stressed on the fact that the enemies of India like malnutrition, poverty and illiteracy needed to be tackled on a priority. He emphasized that the present generation has an opportunity to bring glory to the nation and we should leave no stone unturned in achieving this goal. Prof Meera Sharma, president of the society elaborated on the importance of gastrointestinal infections in our country and the need for further research in this area. The Director-Principal, Prof. Raj Bahadur, thanked the minister for encouraging the young audience to take up the issues of nation building. He also urged the minister to give GMCH a grant for poor patients hailing from Punjab. The minister was gracious enough to grant a sum of Rs 10 lakh per annum from his discretionary fund to help such patients. Prof Atul Sachdev introduced the theme of the conference to the audience. Eminent speakers from India who are experts in their respective fields deliberated on important gastrointestinal infections. Prominent among the conditions discussed today were gastrointestinal tuberculosis, water and blood borne hepatitis, typhoid, cholera, various diarrhoeal diseases, and GI infections in HIV/AIDS. The organizing secretary Dr Sanjay D'Cruz proposed the vote of thanks. th On 14 March, 2010 Dr. Vineet Ahuja from AIIMS stressed on newer concepts in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis. Prof. B Nagi from PGIMER, discussed the radiological clues to GI tuberculosis. Prof. Amarender Puri from GB Pant hospital Delhi delved into non-radiological investigation in GI tuberculosis, laying special stress on tissue diagnosis and the role of ADA in cases of peritoneal tuberculosis. Prof Pokharna from Jaipur elaborated on the Hepatitis B infection. Hepatits C was discussed by Prof Amit Mathur. Dr Naveet Wig from AIIMS spoke on diarrhea in AIDS patients. Dr Govind Makharia from AIIMS spoke on small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. The conference was well attended and appreciated by over 150 delegates from Chandigarh and neighbouring states of Punjab Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

Report of 3nd Biennial Conference of Gastrointestinal Infection Society of India

The 3rd GISICON 2011 was organized by Department of Clinical Microbiology & Immunology, KMC – International Centre, Manipal on 13th and 14th May, 2011. A brief welcome address was given by the Organizing Secretary, Dr.Mamatha Ballal.

The scientific event of day 1 began with the presentation by Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe, Regional Advisor, Immunization & Vaccine Development, WHO, New Delhi on “Vaccine strategies for the vaccine preventables enteric infections”. Followed by his talk, Dr.Rim Kwang IL Epidemiology, Who, New Delhi enlightened the audience on “New WHO strategic approach for the prevention and contol of acute diarrhea in Southeast Asia region”. Dr.Rim stressed the importance towards diarrhea free region and world. Dr.G.B Nair, Director – NICED, Kolkata threw lime light on “New insights into community & hospitalized diarrhea in resource poor settings”. He emphasized on the need for prevention and diagnosis of diarrhea.

The conference was a platform especially for the young student whose innovative research mind was reflected through the poster presentation session. The presentation covered various fields from gastrointestinal infection and highlighted the value of medicinal plants in treating such infections.

Panel Discussion on "Investigation & management of Hepatitis B & C" was conducted by Dr. Sudha V (professor & head of Medicine), Dr. Mukhyaprana P (Professor of Medicine), Dr. Deepak Suvarna (Associate Professor of Gastroenterology), KMC and Dr. Sugandhi Rao (Professor of Microbiology), KMC IC, Manipal, after the lunch. Dr. Philip Abraham, consultant gastroenterologist, RD. Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai, spoke on "The emerging challenges of Crohn's Disease in India". A bird's eye view on "GI Tuberculosis: An emerging new facet of GI disorder in the new millennium" was shown by Dr. V.M. Katoch, Director General, ICMR, New Delhi. The day 1 scientific events were wound up and kicked off for the formal inaugural function in the evening.

The Inaugural ceremony was graced by distinguished scientists Dr. V.M. Katoch, Director General, ICMR, New Delhi, Dr. H.S. Ballal, Pro Chancellor, Dr. K. Ramnarayan, Vice Chancellor, Dr. G.K. Prabhu, Registrar, Manipal University, Dr.G.B. Nair, Director, NICED, Kolkata, Dr. Rim Kwang IL, Epidemiologist, WHO, New Delhi, Dr. N.K. Ganguly, Ex-Director General and Eminent Microbiologist, ICMR, New Delhi, Dr. Baskaran, First Vice Chancellor (retired) and Eminent Microbiologist, Medical Health University, Andhra Pradesh, Professor Valiathan, National Research Professor, Dr. Poornima Balliga, Convener/ Dean, KMC International Centre, Manipal. The souvenir of GISICON was released by Dr. G.B. Nair and the Journal of Gastrointestinal Infection was released by the chief guest Dr. V.M. Katoch. The conference was supported by WHO, ICMR, CSIR and other sources.

The scientific proceedings for day 2 began with "The clinical manifestations of Campylobacter infections" by Dr. Chetana Vaishnavi, Professor, Division of Microbiology, Department of Gastroenterology, PGIMER, Chandigarh. She insisted on the need for the diagnosis of C. jejuni infections. Dr. Ranganathan Iyer, Consultant, Clinical Microbiologist, Global Hospitals, Hyderabad, incontrovertibly emphazised "The role of clinical microbiology lab in the diagnosis and antimicrobial therapy in GI infections". "An update on the Microbiology of Helicobacter pylori" was given by Dr. Varsha Gupta, Professor of Microbiology, GMCH, Chandigarh. The scientific fest continued with the lecture on the "Recent developments in gastrointestinal Zygomycosis" by Dr. Jagdish Chander, Professor & Head of Microbiology, GMCH, Chandigarh. Dr. K.V Rajagopal, Professor of Radiodiagnosis, KMC, Manipal enlightened the gathering on "The novel radiological imaging approaches in GI Infections". The significance of "Opportunistic GI Infections in HIV patients" was addressed by Dr. Ganesh Bhat, Associate Professor of Gastroenterology, KMC, Manipal. Dr. Shrikala Balliga, Professor & Head of Microbiology, KMC, Mangalore stressed on the "Advances in high level disinfection and sterilization". The conference adjourned with a valedictory function where awards for Best Poster and Brain Teasers were given off. With over a 200 delegates from different parts of the country and across the globe, an overwhelming response was achieved. As the curtains of GISICON 2011 dropped down, the executive body meeting of GISI was held at the same venue post lunch followed by the General body meeting of GISI members. It was decreed to conduct the 4th Biennial conference of GISI at Srinagar, Kashmir in 2013.

Report of 4th Biennial Conference of Gastrointestinal Infection Society of India

A two day conference on gastrointestinal infection was held at GMCH 32 on 11-12th April 2014.

The forth biennial conference of gastrointestinal infection society of India, GISICON 2014, which started on Friday, focused on infectious disease of the gastrointestinal tract of the human body.

The event, which deliberated on diseases such as cholera and typhoid, saw nearly 150 delegates attend it on the first day. Many eminent experts from various fields from various cities across the country including Bhopal. Bangalore, Delhi, Lucknow and Jaipur, spoke on the occasion. The second day saw two plenary sessions held on various aspects of gastrointestinal infections in immune compromise patients and another on miscellaneous gastrointestinal infection.

The total of six papers were presented at the event. Dr. Sumita Khurana's papers titled "Cryptosporidium Genotypes" in North Indian patients, won the 1st prize in the oral free papers. There was a total of 27 posters being displayed, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Dr. Sivananthan K's poster on "Molecular epidemiology of Shigella flexneri isolated over a decade in North India", won the first prize, while Dr. Aparna from Rohtak's Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences won the second prize for her poster on "Biofilm formation by clinical commensal Enterococci".

Dr. Chetana Vaishnavi spoke on the innovative fecal microbiota transplantation. Dr Bella Mahajan presented her talk on recent advances in molecular detection techniques in gastrointestinal infections. Dr Arti Kapil presented a talk on hepatitis in tropical infections. The event also saw a quiz, which was hepatitis in tropical infectionswon by Harpreet Kaur from GMCH Sec- 32, while Dilip Abraham of Christian Medical College Ludhiana won the second prize.

Report of 5th Biennial Conference of Gastrointestinal Infection Society of India

Fifth Biennial Conference of Gastrointestinal Infection Society of India – GISICON 2015 was organized from 6-7 November, 2015 by Departments of Microbiology & Medicine, Govt. Medical College & Hospital, Jammu under the aegis of Gastrointestinal Infection Society of India (GISI) This two day National Conference focused on the recent advances in the diagnosis and management of Gastrointestinal (GI) infections. Hon’ble Minister for Health & Medical Education, Choudhary Lal Singh inaugurated the conference in the presence of GMC faculty, doctors from J&K Health Services, members of Administration and medical as well as paramedical students. Organizing Secretary Dr Sandeep Dogra in his Welcome address emphasized the GISI’s novel initiative of horizontal integration between the specialties of microbiology, medicine, gastroenterology and pediatrics where experts from all over India meet, network and interact to exchange and update themselves in the area of GI infections. Organizing Chairperson, Dr Bella Mahajan took the delegates down the memory lane and spoke about the genesis and evolution of GISI as a Society and beyond.

Eminent speakers from different parts of country enlightened the audience with their expertise and experience. In his welcome address, Dr M. S. Khuru who discovered the Hepatitis E virus spoke on its discovery, cure and control. Prof. Atul Sachdev, Director Principal, GMCH, Chandigarh spoke on Hepatitis C virus prophylaxis and therapy. Prof. S. K. Sinha from PGIMER spoke on GI Bleed etiology and management. Dr. Neelam Kler updated delegates on prevention of nectrotising enterocolitis and sepsis. Prof. Chand Wattal from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital impressed upon the need of stepping out of laboratory.

A constructive debate between Prof. Rajoo Singh and Dr. Mohit Sharma on perspective of a surgeon and physician was centre point. GI fungal infection was dealt by Dr Jagdish Chander and Fecal transplants were discussed by Dr Chetana Vaishnavi. Genetically modified food and altered gut microbiota was presented by Dr Rekha Harish. Dr Richard and Dr Anil Tarigopula presented the latest diagnostic modalities available in GI diseases.

There were free paper sessions (Oral and posters) wherein a total of 20 postgraduates and faculty researchers presented their research work. A PG Quiz was also organized where PGs from 6 medical institutes participated. More than 300 delegates, and renowned faculty and speakers from J&K and neighboring states of Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab participated in the event. The conference was accredited by J&K state Medical Council for eight credit points for delegates. The academic event was followed by banquet dinner and valedictory ceremony.