The ATAL Faculty Development Programme deliberated on novel ideas in the field of drug design and engineering thus paving future strategies on innovation in pharmaceutical sciences.

The programme was jointly organized by Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research (DIPSAR) and Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University (DPSRU) in which lectures were delivered by prominent scientists from around the country in the field of pharmaceutical sciences.

The first day of the programme was graced by the presence of Chief Guest Prof. Rajendra Kakde, Advisor, AICTE, patron of the program, Prof. R.K. Goyal, honourable Vice Chancellor, DPSRU, Dr. O.P Shukla, Registrar, DPSRU, Dr. P. K. Sahoo, Director, DIPSAR, and Dr. Harvinder Popli, Director, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, as well as the faculty and participants from the academia, and industry.

Three scientific sessions were held on crucial topics of Drug Engineering, coordinated well by Dr. Saurabh Dahiya, Coordinator and Organising Secretary, AICTE ATAL FDP on Drug Engineering. The themes for the day aimed at accumulation of novel ideas in the field of drug design and engineering.

Professor Rajendra B. Kakde, encouraged the learners regarding the importance of continuous learning being offered by way of this FDP being sponsored by AICTE ATAL Academy and being conducted in online mode at DIPSAR. He also briefed the 200 participants about various initiatives being taken up by AICTE for faculty development and ATAL FDP programme being one of the flag bearer scheme which has already gained national and international popularity and made its place in World Book of Records, London.

In opening remarks, Professor R.K. Goyal opined that pharmacy is unique to have different combinations of studies, including medicine, science, management and the most important being engineering. For instance, large scale manufacturing of vaccines and compilation of medical devices require the knowledge of engineering domains too. He suggested that today’s NEP has a holistic, multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary approach. Professor Goyal also took the first session and spoke on Novel Formulation development by Drug Engineering: Success story at University.

The next session was taken by Dr. JB Gupta, who presided as a Consultant in Contract Research Organization. A lecture on Personalized Medicine was delivered by him. The final session was taken by Dr. Shubra Chaturvedi, Scientist E, Division of cyclotron and radiopharmaceutical sciences, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS) Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) who spoke on development and quality control of radiopharmaceuticals. Each lecture was followed by a Q & A session by the listeners.