15/21 Virtual University Bioinformatics Workshop is Practical and Timely – Prof. Mukhtar

Pakistani biologists and bioinformatics specialists should play their role in identifying drug targets for the COVID-19 causing virus. This was stated by Professor Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar, Vice Chancellor of the National Skills University Islamabad Pakistan, while presiding over the inaugural ceremony of the Hands-on Training Workshop on “Protein-Ligand Docking and Molecular Dynamics Simulation” organized by the Virtual University Pakistan. In his inaugural address, Rector VU, Prof. Dr. Arshad Saleem Bhatti welcomed Professor Mukhtar at the VU Islamabad Campus. Elaborating on his vision, the VU Rector discussed establishing world-class training laboratories in various cities of Pakistan. According to him, students maintain their interactions with the physical landmarks of their Alma Maters, and his administration team is struggling with such initiatives.

Prof. Mukhtar congratulated the trainers of this workshop, mainly the chief organizers Dr. Muhammad Tariq Pervez, Dr. Arshad Hashmi from the VU campus, and several others who will mentor students during the three-day intensive program.

According to the Chief Guest, the COVID-19 causing virus inhibitors can be developed through in silico technology. The world has almost failed at this front. There are nearly 300 vaccines emerging in the past one and a half year for COVID-19 causing virus in different phases, including pre-clinical, clinical, and post-evaluation. Unfortunately, not a newly developed single antiviral exists for the COVID-19 causing virus except previously approved FDA drug the Remdesivir.

Molecular docking simulation methods have been used to identify antivirals for HIV, and there is a good potential to find one for the COVID-19 causing virus. He advised participants of the workshop to get involved in such projects and congratulated Virtual University for organizing this timely event.