Womens Center Educational Trust and Avinashilingam University jointly introduce new Master Degree in Embryology
We often talk about life changing careers, but there is truly a career, changing everyone’s life: clinical embryology. A doctor brings back your health. An embryologist fills your life with happiness, says Dr.Mirudhubashni Govindarajan. Womens Center Educational Trust, in affiliation with Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, is the first institute in Tamilnadu to introduce this new course in Master’s.
Doctor, what is clinical embryology?
Embryology is the branch of biology that studies the prenatal development of gametes (sex cells), fertilization, and development of embryos and fetuses.
Not all cells in humans can survive outside the body, except reproductive cells. Because those are special and capable ones. But for them to survive, suitable conditions are needed. The cells are very sensitive, and need the correct temperature, nutrition and so on to grow. Embryology is the science about creating such environments.
It’s a new field?
Not exactly. This field is almost thirty-five years old. In India, this field actually started growing in the 90s. Initially, people with a PhD in biology were sent to study and get trained in the field in the US and the UK.
We sent our people for training in Singapore and Australia which were the first and best ones at the time in Asia.
What’s the qualification to join the master’s?
Yes. Bsc in biology or an equivalent degree in science is the qualification for joining this two year course. These days, even the MBBS and the BDS students show interest in joining this course. Of course, they are eligible too.
What are the placement opportunities?
Yes, yes… I’d say placement opportunities are fantastic for this course.
In India there are 8000 fertility centers, but you cannot see properly trained technicians there. That’s the situation now. In India, there are only three or four centers that offer this course.
You know, sir, an embryo is actually someone’s child in cell form. We are going to take care of someone’s child then. We need specialists for it. That’s why the Womens Center Educational Trust is introducing the course in Tamilnadu.
Recently, in parliament, regulations for fertility centers were also discussed.
What’s the role of Avinashilingam Institute in this course?
As I said, this is a special course, so we need specialists who know the basics of biology. You cannot simply allow anyone to handle human eggs before they get proper training.
An embryologist needs to know many things. In a simple process of examining the eggs, we use several microscopes. An embryologist must know how to use a microscope. This is an example. There are government-approved animal eggs centers. Students should learn how to handle them before they see human eggs. Every part of this course ensures proper training.
Avinashilingam Institute is going to train students in the essential parts. They turn students into technicians. We train those technicians as embryologists at the Womens Center Educational Trust.
Simply, the early stages of the course is done by Avinashilingam Institute and the latter training is done here at the Womens Center.
It’s actually a degree course. So it has to be offered by a university. That’s the right way. Avinashilingam University grants this degree.
When can students join the course?
We are starting this course this July this year, because of the demand. Of the 8000, I mentioned, around 6000 centers are in need of embryologists immediately. The demand is going to increase further, when the government implements regulations. This is why I said placement opportunities would be fantastic.