Gene therapy for soldiers

BANGALORE: “Gene therapy can play an important role in treating soldiers in the defence forces. We are looking at the macro level incidences of success of this molecular biological science,” says Dr V K Saraswat, director general, DRDO and chief scientific advisor to the ministry of Defence, Government Of Inida.Speaking to the reporters during a press conference organised by Dr Agarwal Hospital and Gene Research, to announce- Indian Society for Molecular Advanced Regenerative Technologies (ISMART), Dr Saraswat said that nearly 12,000 patients have been treated with gene therapy covering multiple diseases ranging from rare genetic disorder, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, nerve degeneration to eye related ailments, none of them have shown any adverse effects to this treatment.Dr Saraswat further maintained that genetic engineering is evolving as the future of modern medicine and it can help treat wounds, bleeding and trauma in soldiers without complex surgeries.