The Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB) will conduct a 18-month diploma course in Cheminformatics. The course will start from November 15, 2007.

The course would be taught in three semesters with in-house training and internship. Cheminformatics is the application of information technology to solve problems in Chemistry. This is the third diploma course of IBAB, which is already known for its two postgraduate diploma courses in Bioinformatics and Biotechniques.

Last year, IBAB received a corpus from AstraZeneca Research Foundation, India for a faculty chair in Cheminformatics. Candidates eligible for the course are those with bachelor or master's degree in Chemistry or Pharmacy or B.E /B.Tech in Chemical Engineering with minimum of 55 per cent marks. Students awaiting their examination results can also apply, provided their average percentage of previous semesters/years is at least 55 per cent marks. There is no age limit for the course. Application form for Indian students is available for Rs 800 and for NRI/foreign students it is Rs 1500. Last date for applications is September 1. 2007.

All India Entrance test for the course to be held on September 9, 2007. Selection is based on the results of an objective-type written tests to be held at Bangalore, Belgaum, Bhopal, Chennai, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mangalore, and Mumbai. Short-listed candidates will have to attend an interview at Bangalore.

Students can also seek financial assistance from Syndicate Bank for all the IBAB courses. According to IBAB, Cheminformatics is a booming industry. There is lack of qualified scientific professionals, who can use computers and databases for chemical compounds or drug development. Realizing its immense potential, the chemical and pharmaceutical industries are now going in for qualified and trained staff in Cheminformatics. These professionals are essential to develop and maintain programs for specific scientific applications. In the years to come Cheminformatics will play a vital role in new drug discovery programmes and candidates with professional experience are bound to have good career opportunities, stated IBAB.

IBAB is situated at ITPL, Whitefield Bangalore. It was set up by the Government of Karnataka and ICICI Bank under a public-private partnership in 2001. It is recognized as one of the premier institutes in the country.