Chandigarh February 22, 2021
A one-week web faculty training school under the initiative of UGC Networking
Resource Centre (UGC-NRC), on “Fundamentals, Advances and Innovative Platforms for
Drug Delivery and Pharmaceutical Technology” from 22 to 27 February 2021 was
inaugurated today via Cisco WebEx at the University Institute of Pharmaceutical
Sciences (UIPS), Panjab University Campus, for pharma faculty participants across
the country by Professor B. R. Mittal, Director, Institute of Medical Sciences,
Banaras Hindu University, Uttar Pradesh.
A total of 40 participants were selected for training, hailing from various
Colleges/Universities, representing 13 different states of India. The training
school intends to provide superior understanding to the participants on fundamental
concepts for product development, innovative drug delivery platforms, regulatory and
technological advancement in pharma industry.
Professor Indu Pal Kaur, Chairperson, UIPS and Programme Coordinator, UGC-NRC
welcomed the participants and briefed them about the achievements of UIPS and UGC-
NRC programmes. Professor V. R. Sinha, Dean of University Instruction, Panjab
University and Course Coordinator, 27th UGC-NRC summarized about the course content
to the participants and Dr Amita Sarwal, Joint Course Coordinator conducted the
proceedings of the event.
Professor Mittal highlighted on the importance of Nuclear medicine not only as
diagnostic but also as therapeutic option. He elaborated that radionucleotides
tagging can be used in antibody therapies for breast cancer, neuroendocrine tumors
and thyroid cancer.
Professor Prince Sharma, Former Dean, Faculty of sciences and Professor in
Department of Microbiology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, delivered the Key Note
Address on “Reverse Vaccinology: Developing Vaccines against Drug resistant
Bacterial Pathogens in the Post- Antibiotic Era.” He delivered a very impactful
talk, highlighted the concept of Antibiotic resistance in the current era, and
focused on solutions like repurposing the drugs, combination therapies and
nanomedicine. He showcased his study on “Acinetobacter baumannii” which has been
designated as critical in WHO priority list of pathogens. He concluded his talk with
emphasis on simple hand-washing as an effective method for reducing infections.
Subsequent sessions included a lecture on “Cocrystals as Novel Solid Form of
Pharmaceutical Development” by Professor Arvind Bansal, Professor and Head,
Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and
Research (NIPER), Mohali, Punjab. He aptly explained that co-crystals can modify the
physico-chemical properties of Active-Pharmaceutical Ingredients. It is a Green-
Synthesis approach for production of pharmaceutical compounds. The post-lunch
session covered informative talks by Professor B. Mishra, Professor of Pharmaceutics
and Former Head, Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi,
Uttar Pradesh on “Pulsatile Drug Delivery using Pastilation Technique” can achieve
desired therapeutic effects and reduced side-effects for patient-compliant products
and Professor Bikash Medhi, Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of
Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh on “How to apply IND Application
in Drug Delivery Process and Re-purposing of Drug in Pandemic” as a crucial
preliminary step for the approval of drug for public use.
UIPS is the first and the only Pharmacy Institute in the country selected by MHRD
for creating UGC Networking Resource Centre to promote and foster research and
academics in the field of Pharmaceutical Sciences by training young pharma trainers,
selected across the nation.
