The Hyderabad-based Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), a joint venture of Andhra Pradesh State government, University of Hyderabad and Dr Reddy's Laboratories, in association with the University of Regensburg will offer PhD in Chemistry.

According to ILS, it has joined hands with the University of Regensburg to offer PhD under the Indo-German Organic Chemistry Group (Indigo) programme. As per this programme, the University of Regensburg will award PhDs to the students from ILS. They will carry out their researches under the guidance of professors from ILS and Regensburg at ILS as well Regensburg University. ILS has already identified two students for this programme.

Speaking to Pharmabiz, Javed Iqbal, director, Institute of Life Sciences, said, "ILS has joined hands with University of Regensburg to offer PhD under the Indigo programme. As per this programme, professors from both the institutes will jointly supervise the researches and will publish jointly. The students will carry out the researches both in ILS and Regensburg. The viva will be conducted in Regensburg and they will award PhD to our students."

Institute is looking for similar kinds of programme in Biology. It has also collaborated with a professor from the Oxford University. The institute stated that all its scientists are Indians who were employed in various foreign countries and is also looking forward to bring more Indians who are working in the overseas countries to the institute. ILS has also plans to bring in several international professors as visiting faculty. It is in discussions with two to three companies for collaboration. However, Javed Iqbal refused to reveal more on the same.

Javed Iqbal further added that the institute's aim is to create marriage of innovation and application and also bridge the gap between industry and academia. It is working on areas such as TB, infectious diseases, diabetes and obesity and oncology. He stated that the institute wants to be India centric also and its aim is to provide affordable medicine.

The institute has already filed two provisional patents in Chennai on the pharmaceutical co-crystal, which it claims first of its kind in the country. Several companies have already approached the institute for platform technology on pharma co-crystal. Javed Iqbal stated that its vision is to create revenue in the long run for survival by commercializing IP to the companies.