President's Message

People have become more health conscious in the recent years and interested in issues pertaining to advancements in biomedical research. One of the novel approaches to disease prevention and therapy involve free radicals and antioxidants. The Society for Free Radical Research has been formed to promote research on free radicals and antioxidants with particular reference to medical and industrial importance for the benefit of mankind. Countries in the Asian region are among those that are growing at a rapid rate in recent years, both in terms of quality of life as measured by standard of living and scientific research. People here are also becoming conscious of issues pertaining to diet and nutrition, especially those related to disease prevention. This is important in the context of life style changes observed in many of the Asian countries in recent years due to improved economy. In this context research on free radicals and natural antioxidants is emerging as a major area of biomedical research. In Asian countries there is a realization that combining ancient wisdom, as envisaged in the oriental systems of medicine with rapid recent advancements in biomedical research can yield rich dividends in human health. These systems also advocate the use of natural products for disease prevention and therapy. Many natural products originating in the Asian countries have tremendous scope for health related applications. SFRR-Asia is playing a significant role in the above mentioned aspects, especially in promoting interaction among both basic and clinical scientists by organizing national and international conferences. This is more so in the last few years in major Asian countries where SFRR-Asia or its regional societies are active. Presently, SFRR-Asia has 6 units affiliated to it, from Japan, Korea, China, India, Thailand and Malaysia. Few more countries such as Indonesia and Taiwan also showed interest in joining the SFRR-Asia and they also regularly attend conferences of SFRR-Asia and its units. SFRR-Asia holds biennial meetings and its units, annual/biennial meetings. More interactions between scientists in the Asian region will promote more productive collaborations that can yield rich dividends in the coming years. I wish all the members of SFRR-Asia a bright future combined with very productive research career.

Dr. T. Paul Asir Devasagayam President, Society for Free Radical Research-Asia Radiation Biology and Health Sciences Division Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Mumbai, India

President-elect's Message

Dear Colleagues  I write this address as the President-Elect of SFRR Asia. I thank all of you for your confidence and support in electing me to this position. I am looking forward to all the challenges and exciting times in the next 2 years as the new President. In carrying out my responsibilities I hope that I will have your kind friendship and co-operation in enhancing our knowledge of free radicals.  My first task as President-Elect will be to organise the next SFRR –Malaysia/Asia meeting which will be held in the beautiful island of Langkawi from 9-12th July 2009. Malaysia has been hosting SFRR Malaysia meetings once every 3 years from 1992. We have to thank Prof. Lester Packer for being the driving force in bringing these meetings to Malaysia. All previous 6 meetings have been very well attended and we hope that it will be the same next year.  In the meantime I look forward to working together with all my Asian colleagues in making SFRR Asia a success. We also look forward to the support of SFRR International our parent body.

Dr. Kalanithi Nesaretnam Malaysian Palm Oil Board Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia

Society for Free Radical Research

The Society promotes interest in all aspects of research into the reactions and properties of free radicals and into their physical, chemical, biological, medical and industrial roles.

SFRR International

Founded in 1982, and now with over 2800 members worldwide, the Society consists of six autonomous regional groups: SFRR Asia, SFRR Europe, SFRR Australasia, the Oxygen Society (Pan America), SFRR Africa, and SFRR ASEAN.

SFRR Asia Biennial Meetings
1st	2003     November 6-8  Seoul, Korea President: Myung-Hee Chung (Korea)
2nd	2005     June 24-29  Shanghai, China President: Baolu Zhao (China)
3rd	2007     January 8-11   Lonavala, India President: T.P.A. Devasagayam (India)
4th	2009     July 9-12   Langkawi, Malaysia President: Kala Nesaretnam (Malaysia)