The official newsletter of the Pakistan Inherited Metabolic Disease Network (Pak-IMD-Net)
A Working Group of Pakistan Society of Chemical Pathology (PSCP)
Strengthening diagnostics, education and research in the area of inherited metabolic disorders
INSIDE:
Message from the Chair Highlights from
ChemCon 2022
Endocolloquium 2023 Rare Disease Day 2023 Workshop Highlights Research Projects
Members’ Details
Associate Professor, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi
As the Chair and an expert in diagnostics of our working group on Inherited Metabolic Disorders (IMDs) in Pakistan, I am pleased to update you on our recent progress.
Our group has been working tirelessly to improve the diagnosis and management of IMDs in Pakistan, where these disorders remain underdiagnosed and undertreated. We recognize that timely and accurate diagnosis is critical for improving the outcomes of affected individuals, and our efforts have been focused on enhancing diagnostic capacity across the country.
To this end, we have been conducting workshops and training programs for healthcare professionals, including geneticists, pediatricians, and laboratory technicians, to raise awareness about the different types of IMDs, their clinical presentation, and the most appropriate diagnostic tests.
Furthermore, we have been advocating for the inclusion of IMDs in newborn screening programs in Pakistan, as early detection can help prevent severe symptoms and complications.
We have also been working on developing standardized protocols for the diagnosis of IMDs, including the appropriate selection of diagnostic tests and the interpretation of results, to ensure consistency and accuracy in the diagnosis of these complex disorders.
However, we still have a long way to go, and I would like to urge all members of our working group to continue their efforts toward achieving our goals. We must work together to promote the early diagnosis and appropriate management of IMDs in Pakistan, improve access to specialized care, and provide support to affected individuals and their families. Together, we can make a significant difference in the lives of those affected by IMDs in Pakistan.
Hopes for the future?
The PSCP working group is collaborating with other organizations and institutions to build capacity in the diagnosis and management of IMDs. They are also conducting research studies to better understand the epidemiology, genetics, and clinical features of these disorders in the Pakistani population.
With these efforts, we expect that the diagnosis and management of IMDs will improve in Pakistan, leading to better health outcomes for affected individuals and their families. Furthermore, new research in this area may also contribute to the development of novel therapies and interventions for IMDs worldwide.
Overall, the future of inherited metabolic disorder research in Pakistan looks promising, and with continued efforts and collaboration, we can hope to make significant progress in this field.
Rare Disease Day is an annual event held on the last day of February each year to raise awareness about rare diseases and the challenges faced by patients and their families. In 2022, Rare Disease Day was celebrated by Pak-IMD-Net by conducting a special webinar on February 28th.
Rare Disease Day 2023
On Rare Disease Day 2023, an expanded newborn screening program was launched at AKUH, Karachi. The program will use advanced screening technologies to detect a wider range of rare diseases in newborns and work closely with healthcare providers and other stakeholders to ensure that affected infants receive the best possible care.
The program, led by the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, focuses on implementing a Newborn Screening (NBS) system.
Dr. Lena and Bushra Afroze presented the system, emphasizing that it is not a test but a comprehensive approach to identifying health issues in newborns. The program initially started with the main CPUs and expanded to include secondary hospitals. In 2022, the NBS system was implemented at Cap CEC and ERNDIM in Hyderabad, and in January 2021, it was implemented at the CAH main campus. Dr. Hafsa developed a virtual learning environment training program for the DBS collection system. Azeema and Farhat were recognized for their contributions to LCMS optimization during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Khadija Humayun discussed the time-consuming process of clinical follow-up and confirmatory testing. Despite the challenges, the effort was deemed worthwhile as it resulted in 27 children being saved from developmental delays. The families of these children also had an opportunity to discuss their well-being. Dr. Khadija also highlighted the issue of retrieval failure during this period and emphasized the importance of universal screening rather than just high-risk screening.
Dr. Sibtain shared the team’s initial decision to use Indian cutoffs for the NBS program, which led to a high false positive rate. However, they later adopted the Oregon State Health Program, resulting in a significant decrease in false positives. The prevalence of the disorder in Oregon was 1 in 150, while in Pakistan, it was 1 in 8500. The team selected 12 disorders relevant to the Pakistani context, and the clinical team has been supportive throughout the program. However, the classical PKU algorithm was not included in the program due to its complexity in reaching a diagnosis.
Dean Adil Haider emphasized the importance of the NBS program for affected families. He stated that the care young children receive from everyone around them shapes them into great citizens who contribute to society.
Following the Dean’s remarks, CEO Dr. Farhat Abbas shared his thoughts on the program. He commended the Tertiary Care Center for its commitment and presented a case study on AKU. Dr. Abbas praised the full-circle commitment of the staff, highlighting that the program is easy, inexpensive, and quick. He noted that society is split into those who cause destruction and those who care about the birth of every small child, as every newborn is the future. He encouraged everyone to do whatever they can to protect the future and acknowledged that these things take time to achieve. Dr. Abbas ended his remarks by urging everyone to feel proud of their contributions to the NBS program.
Dr. Aysha and Dr. Salman then emphasized that the success of the ABS program would depend on togetherness and the engagement of all stakeholders from the beginning. They stressed the importance of non-competitive collaborations, which are rare in the South Asian region, especially in an expensive institution. However, they highlighted that the AKU has both academic and clinical credibility, which can support such collaborations.
The Pakistan Society of Chemical Pathology (PSCP)-Karachi Chapter organized its 12th Annual Conference ChemCon 2022 with the theme of “Metabolomics: Revolutionizing Chemical Pathology” in Karachi, Pakistan, on November 25-26, 2022. The event was held under the auspices of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC).
The conference aimed to promote open science, particularly in metabolomics, and provided an opportunity to discuss the latest advancements, achievements, and concerns related to metabolomics in chemical pathology in Pakistan. The conference included a pre-conference workshop and two scientific sessions, which featured keynote talks by national and international experts, including Dr. Khosrow Adeli, President IFCC.
An innovative feature of the conference was “Reels on Metabolomics,” where attendees submitted short videos highlighting their work and experiences related to metabolomics.
Held in Pearl Continental Hotel, Karachi, ChemCon 2022 brought together chemical pathology experts from various institutions in Pakistan to discuss the latest research and advancements in the field. The conference provided a platform for professionals to share their latest knowledge and network with peers. It facilitated networking opportunities, allowing attendees to connect with colleagues and potential collaborators in the field. These connections helped attendees build professional relationships and could lead to promising future collaborations, especially in metabolomics.
The competitive oral and poster presentations displayed novel scientific research and presented a great chance for learning. Overall, Chemcon 2022 was a beneficial event for chemical pathologists in Pakistan as it provided a platform for knowledge sharing, learning, and networking.
Reels on Metabolomics from Pakistan
Dr Lena Jafri, Dr Hafsa Majid, and Dr Imran Siddiqui
The Metabolomics Reels project from Pakistan aimed to create buzz and raise awareness about metabolomics in the chemical pathology community and beyond. Short videos, or reels, were created and shared on social media platforms, showcasing experiences, achievements, and future related to metabolomics while promoting its integration into chemical pathology laboratories and its impact on personalized medicine in Pakistan. This project was part of ChemCon 2022. The display of these videos on LCD screens during the conference and their subsequent sharing on the social media platforms of the Pakistan Society of Chemical Pathologists (PSCP) significantly increased their reach and visibility.
The purpose of these reels was threefold. Firstly, they aimed to raise awareness and generate interest in the field of metabolomics, fostering its recognition and importance among chemical pathology professionals in Pakistan. Secondly, the videos provided a platform for Pakistani labs to share their unique perspectives on metabolomics, showcasing their current advancements and contributions to the field. Lastly, the reels facilitated discussions on actionable plans for integrating metabolomics into the chemical pathology laboratories of Pakistan, thereby fostering collaboration, and driving future progress.
The guidelines provided for creating these reels ensured their effectiveness. Keeping the videos concise, with a maximum length of 30 seconds and consisting of 2-3 sentences, allowed for impactful and easily digestible content. The contents of the videos were diverse and aimed to engage the viewers with various aspects of metabolomics. Ideas for the content included sharing experiences and achievements related to metabolomics in chemical pathology, discussing how metabolomics can benefit clinicians in Pakistan, exploring the scope of metabolomics in personalized and precision medicine, highlighting training opportunities in metabolomics within Pakistan, discussing the integration of metabolomics into the Chemical Pathology curriculum, and emphasizing the value that metabolomics has added to the healthcare landscape of Pakistan.
Overall, the outcomes of this project were highly successful in promoting and highlighting the significance of metabolomics in chemical pathology. The reels effectively generated interest, fostered discussions, and laid the foundation for future advancements and collaborations in the field within Pakistan.
Chair
Dr. Lena Jafri, Associate Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi
Co-Chair
Professor (Brig-Retd) Aamir Ijaz, Professor of Chemical Pathology, Mohiuddin Islamic Medical College, Mirpur, AJK
Members
Dr. Aysha Habib Khan, Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, AKUH, Karachi Dr. Hafsa Majid, Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, AKUH, Karachi
Dr. Sibtain Ahmed, Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, AKUH, Karachi Dr. Khadija Humayun, Associate Professor, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, AKUH, Karachi Dr. Madiha Beg, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, AKUH, Karachi
Dr. Siraj Muneer, Staff Pathologist, AKUH, Karachi
Dr. Zaibunissa Khan, Resident Chemical Pathology, AKUH, Karachi
Azeema Jamil, Senior Technologist, BioGenetics Laboratory, AKUH, Karachi Nasir Ali Khan, Senior Technologist, BioGenetics Laboratory, AKUH, Karachi Iffat Arman, Senior Technologist, BioGenetics Laboratory, AKUH, Karachi Hira Naeem, Technologist, BioGenetics Laboratory, AKUH, Karachi
Farhat Jahan, Technologist, BioGenetics Laboratory, AKUH, Karachi Dr. Bilal Hashmi, Staff Pathologist, AKUH, Karachi
Dr. Noreen Sherazi, Assistant Professor, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Karachi Dr. Fatima Kanani, Section Head of Chemical Pathology, The Indus Hospital, Karachi
Dr. Shabnam Dildar, Consultant Chemical Pathology, National Institute of Blood Diseases, Karachi Dr. Farheen Aslam
Dr. Usman Ali, Assistant Professor, Chemical Pathology, Ziauddin Hospital, Karachi Dr. Erum Salim, Assistant Professor, Chemical Pathology, Ziauddin Hospital, Karachi
Dr. Howrah Ali, Assistant Professor, Chemical Pathology, Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi Dr. Sheharbano Imran, Consultant Chemical Pathology, OMI Hospital, Karachi
Lt Col Dr. Ayesha Hafeez, Chemical Pathologist, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi Maj Dr. Safia Fatima, Chemical Pathologist, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi
Dr. Asim Mumtaz, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Pathology, Children Hospital & Institute of Child Health, Lahore
Dr. Nusrat Alavi, Associate Professor, Chemical Pathology, Rahbar Medical and Dental College, Lahore Professor Dilawar Khan, Department of Chemical Pathology, Shalamar Medical & Dental College, Lahore Dr. Masood Afzal, Demonstrator, Department of Pathology, Shalamar Medical & Dental College, Lahore Dr. Tayyaba Rashid, Demonstrator, Department of Pathology, Shalamar Medical & Dental College, Lahore Dr. Khushbakht Adnan, Consultant, Balochistan Institute of Child Health, Quetta, BICHQ
Maj Saima Bashir, Department of Chemical Pathology, Combined Military Hospital, Quetta Col Zujaja Haroon, Department of Chemical Pathology, Combined Military Hospital, Multan
Corporate Member: Mr. Muhammad Abdullah, Nutricia
Announcement from PSCP Executive Council
This is to announce that Dr Hafsa Majid is nominated as Chair and Dr Usman Munir as Co-Chair of Pak-IMD-Net for next 3 years effective from June 19th 2023. The council would like to thank Dr Lena Jafri and Dr Aamir Ijaz (Founding members/Chair and Cochair respectively) for their contributions towards the working group
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