The Faculty of Pharmacy at Tishk International University organized a two-day conference under the theme “The Role of Kurdish Medicinal Plants in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3): Good Health and Well-Being.” The first day of the event was held at the Dedeman Hotel, while the second day took place at Faculty of  Pharmacy, TIU.

1^st Day (Dedeman Hotel)

The conference commenced with a welcome speech by Asst. Prof. Dr. Mohammed Javed, Head of the Pharmacy Department, who greeted the attendees and introduced the event. Prof. Dr. Muhammed Kalar, Representative of the Minister of Higher Education, also welcomed participants and spoke about the conference theme, highlighting the global significance of herbal plants and their strong alignment with SDG-3.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Muhammed Ozdemir, Vice President of TIU, expressed his appreciation for the efforts of the Faculty of Pharmacy in organizing the event and emphasized the growing importance of herbal medicines. Asst. Prof. Dr. Abdulsamad Salahuddin, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, extended a warm welcome to the audience and provided an overview of the faculty’s accomplishments, including its various activities, workshops, and the recent AHPGS accreditation achievement.

The first session was chaired by Asst. Prof. Dr. Subasini Uthirapathy, who invited the keynote speaker, Prof. Dr. Azeez A. Barzinjy, to deliver a seminar entitled “Harnessing Plant Power: A Sustainable Approach to Nanoparticle Synthesis.” The second keynote speaker, Prof. Dr. Salah Tofik Balaky, presented insights on “Gene Expression Profiling Using RT-PCR to Investigate the Effects of Medicinal Plant Extracts on Bacterial Toxin Gene Expression.”

The second session was led by Dr. Ahmad Hamdy, who welcomed Asst. Prof. Dr. Lana Yousif, presenting her seminar entitled “Complementary and Alternative Medicine.”

The third session was chaired by Dr. Kamaran Javed, who initiated an online Zoom session with Prof. Fatma M. Abdel Bar, who gave a seminar entitled “Natural Products: Challenges and Opportunities.” Following her, Mrs. Sawsan S. Al-Rawi delivered a talk on “Natural Therapeutic Interventions for Women’s Health: A Holistic Approach to Endocrine and Hormonal Regulation.” The final speaker, Dr. Abdulwahab Jameel, presented his seminar entitled “The Role of Genetic Testing in the Development and Clinical Utilization of Targeted Therapy Medications in Cancer.”

Certificates of appreciation were awarded to sponsors, speakers, organizers, and volunteers. Additionally, the top three students from the Faculty of Pharmacy were recognized and awarded certificates for their outstanding academic achievements. The conference also included coffee breaks and a lunch session, allowing attendees to network and engage in further discussions.

 

 

2^nd Day (Faculty of Pharmacy, TIU)

The day began with a warm welcome by Asst. Prof. Dr. Abdulsamad Salahuddin, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy. He provided a brief summary of the first day’s events held at the Dedeman Hotel and reiterated the conference’s alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3): Good Health and Well-Being. He also expressed his sincere appreciation to all organizers, speakers, and attendees for their valuable contributions.

Dr. Marwan, representative of the Iraqi Syndicate, extended his gratitude to the organizers for hosting such a timely and impactful conference. He emphasized the historical significance and potential of traditional herbal medicine in public health.

The first session was chaired by Asst. Prof. Dr. Mohammed Javed Naim, Head of the Pharmacy Department. He invited Asst. Prof. Dr. Javed Ahamad to present his seminar entitled “The Role of Kurdish Medicinal Plants in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals: Good Health and Well-Being.” Following this, Asst. Prof. Dr. Subasini Uthirapathy delivered an insightful presentation entitled “Pomegranate as a Natural Remedy for Gastric Ulcer Prevention: Gastroprotective Mechanisms and Pharmacological Benefits.”

The second session was chaired by Asst. Lecturer Dr. Shajwan Salar. The first speaker, Asst. Prof. Dr. Kamaran Javed, delivered a seminar on the “Ethnopharmacological Study of Medicinal Plants Used in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.” He was followed by Dr. Ahmad Hamdy, Lecturer, who presented his seminar entitled “Pan-Cathepsin Impact: Lauric Acid’s Role in Liver Histopathology and FVCO’s Neuroprotective Potential.” The session concluded with a presentation by Dr. Soma Majidi, Lecturer, who discussed “Synergistic Antimicrobial Effects of Kurdish Medicinal Plants: Damask Rose, Thyme, and Stachys lavandulifolia.”

The final segment of the day was a poster session, featuring the graduation projects of fifth-year pharmacy students. This provided a platform for students to showcase their research and engage with professionals in the field.

The 2^nd day session ended with a closing speech by Asst. Prof. Dr. Mohammad Javed Naim.

Remember, this isn’t the end—it’s just the beginning of continuing the conversations, building the relationships, and turning the insights, we’ve gained into actionable change in our respective fields.

Thank you again for your participation, and I hope to see all of you at our future events.