Origins & Vision (2002)
The INDO‑US Flow Cytometry Workshops were founded in 2002 by Prof. Awtar Krishan, a visionary in cytometry education in India and Emeritus Professor at the University of Miami together with Prof. R. C. Sobti and Dr. Arvinder M. Singh, aimed at elevating Indian cytometry standards through education and collaboration. These workshops were conceived to unite national and international experts into a shared learning platform, bridging research, clinical diagnostics, and training in flow cytometry.
Institutionalisation through TETC (2018)
Responding to the consistent growth and scholarly demand, Prof. Krishan established the Trust for Education and Training in Cytometry (TETC) in 2018. Under the stewardship of Dr. Rekha Gour (Managing Trustee) and other trustees Prof. P.N. Razdan and Dr. Arvinder M. Singh, TETC has since formalized and expanded the workshops into a widely recognized educational initiative across India.
Milestone Workshops
- Virtual 22nd Workshop (Feb 2021) featured a keynote lecture on History of the Indo‑US Workshops by Prof. Awtar Krishan himself, alongside faculty such as Prof. J. Paul Robinson, Prof. Shiv Pillai, and other renowned scientists, emphasizing the series’ scientific and educational legacy.
- 25th Workshop (Silver Jubilee, Lucknow, Feb 2024) commemorated two and a half decades of continuous contributions to cytometry education. Hosted with SGPGIMS, this edition presented four parallel hands-on clinical workshops and a dedicated CME day. The event reinforced TETC’s ethos of combining theory, practical training, and recognition via awards such as quiz, poster/oral presentations, and best clinical paper accolades.
Evolution Over the Years
The workshops began with a research and basic cytometry focus before gradually expanding into:
- Clinical diagnostics and MRD evaluation
- High-dimensional cytometry and multi-colour panel design
- Emerging domains such as veterinary, plant, and pharmaceutical flow cytometry (as seen in the 24th edition, Gujarat–Anand, Feb 2023)
With time, formats evolved—from small in-person events to hybrid and virtual modes during COVID and large-scale national gatherings featuring international faculty and participants.
Core Objectives & Community Impact
Across two decades, the Indo‑US workshops have aimed to:
- Provide rigorous, hands-on training in both research and clinical settings
- Foster collaborations across international and Indian academic institutions
- Launch career-enabling initiatives such as fellowships, quiz and poster awards, and published research recognition
This consistent legacy has helped nurture hundreds of cytometrists, technologists, and researchers who have gone on to impact fields spanning haematology, immunology, oncology, and biotechnology.