NE HEALTH BUREAU
CHENNAI, APR 27
The 41st National Conference of the International Medical Sciences Academy — IMSACON 2026 — was inaugurated at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), ushering in two days of intensive academic exchange under the theme “One Health – Recent Advances in Medical Sciences.”
Organised by the Department of Microbiology under IMSA, the conference brings together leading clinicians, researchers and academicians from across India and abroad, reaffirming IMSA’s legacy since 1981 in fostering scientific excellence and collaboration among its 4,000+ members and fellows.
- 41st IMSACON 2026 Opens in Puducherry with Focus on Integrated Health Sciences
- Experts Call for Human–Animal–Environment Synergy to Tackle Emerging Threats
- AMR, Zoonotic Diseases & AI in Healthcare Take Centre Stage
- Padma Shri Awardees Among Top Minds Honoured with IMSA Oration Awards
- Scientific Exchange, Fellowships & Convocation Mark Two-Day Academic Powerhouse
Delivering the inaugural address, Chief Guest Prof. Kadambari D, Officiating Director of JIPMER, underscored the urgency of integrated health strategies:
“One Health is a holistic approach integrating human, animal, and environmental health to achieve optimal public health outcomes.”
She further stressed the need for stronger inter-sectoral collaboration across health, agriculture and environment to ensure early detection and response to emerging health threats.
Guest of Honour Prof. S. C. Parija highlighted a critical global concern:
“Addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across human, animal, and environmental domains is a key objective of the One Health approach.”
Echoing the need for vigilance, Prof. J. Shanmugam noted the importance of surveillance systems, stating that coordinated monitoring is vital in preventing zoonotic outbreaks.
Dr. K. Jagadeesan, President IMSA, emphasised:
“There is a pressing need to expand academic initiatives and collaborative research at national and international levels to strengthen awareness of One Health principles.”
Dr. R.K. Thukral, Executive Director and Secretary General IMSA, presented a comprehensive overview of the Academy’s recent contributions to medical science and professional development.
The conference agenda spans cutting-edge domains including infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, oncology, artificial intelligence in healthcare, molecular diagnostics, pharmacovigilance, and public health surveillance, positioning IMSACON 2026 as a premier interdisciplinary platform.
Among the distinguished speakers are Padma Shri awardees C. Palanivelu and V. Mohan. In recognition of excellence, Dr. C. Palanivelu, Dr. V. Mohan, Dr. S.P. Thyagarajan, and Prof. J. Shanmugam were conferred the prestigious IMSA Oration Awards for their outstanding contributions to medical science.
A key highlight will be the IMSA Convocation on April 26, where eligible members will be awarded Fellowships (FIMSA), celebrating academic distinction and professional achievement.
The conference is being steered by Prof. Rakesh Singh (Organising Chairman), Prof. Rakhi Biswas (Organising Secretary), and Prof. Noyal M. Joseph (Joint Organising Secretary-cum-Treasurer), under the guidance of Prof. Rahul Dhodapkar, Head of the Department of Microbiology at JIPMER.
