Toxicological pathology, a critical component in the drug development phase is an emerging segment in India. But there is an urgent need for qualified and trained manpower to provide globally accepted quality data. In the wake of expertise shortage in the segment, there is also need to create an awareness on how crucial these studies are for research, stated experts at the second conference on Toxicological pathology.
The event organized by the Society for Toxicologic Pathology in India (STPI) in association with the Society of Toxicologic Pathology (STP), USA highlighted the 'Current Concepts in Toxicological Pathology' where national and international speakers addressed topics from safety pharmacology to rodent models of metabolic disorders and its use in safety assessment. The deliberations brought out the key components of the science.
Globally, efforts in the area of Toxicological Pathology' are far advanced and India needs to go along way. But the main task is to create the right teams to deliver globally acceptable quality data. All pharma R&D, drug development besides collaborative and contract research undertaken in India is being off loaded to India. Companies engaged in the toxicological pathology' works include Aurigene, Advinus, GVK, Syngene, AstraZeneca and Bioneeds to name a few. They have invested in state-o-the-art good laboratory practices certified facilities to undertake contracts from global players. In order to support the advanced infrastructure quality training is imminent, stated Shekar S Chelur, principal scientist, pre-clinical biology, Aurigene Discovery Technologies Limited and secretary, STPI.
Toxicology pathologists are principally involved in evaluating pre clinical safety and efficacy studies of drugs. The ratio between the two is a deciding factor to further the research as it assess the risks associated with exposure to drugs. The data gathered from the study are critical factors which go for review and approvals by regulatory authorities, stated Dr Ashwini Kumar, Director, Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR), Lucknow.
The department of Ayush has made it mandatory for companies to provide toxicology data on the traditional medicine, he added.
According to Dr S K Vijayasarathi, president, STPI and head, of pathology, safety assessment, dept, Advinus Therapeutics, there is a growing demand for toxicology pathology services and the second conference is an platform for the aspiring candidates to pursue their career in this e specialized field. This three day conference being held between October 23-25, 2008 at Bangalore will help to update knowledge through active interactions.
This sort of continuing education through conferences and workshops are helpful to scientists actively engaged in the area of toxicology-pathology studies. A clear shortage of practitioners exists, as a large number of job openings are currently unfilled in toxicology- pathology positions in India, averred Dr Vijayasarathi.