The JSS University, Mysore & the Centre for Science and Technology of the Non-Aligned and other Developing Countries (NAM S&T Centre) are organizing a two-day joint international training workshop on 'herbal drug discovery: herbs - approaches, innovations and applications' on March 30 and 31, 2015.

The event is held at the Sri Rajendra Auditorium, JSS Medical College, JSS University, Mysore.  Delegates from 30 countries will be participating in the event.

The event will be inaugurated by Dr V Prakash, former director Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore. The  keynote address revolves on the theme: Drug Discovery from Herbs - Approaches, Innovations and Applications.

The NAM S&T Centre is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 47 countries spread over Asia, Africa, Middle East and Latin America. It  undertakes a variety, symposiums, meetings and training courses and implementation of collaborative projects. It also offers short-term research fellowships to scientists from developing countries in association with the Centers of Excellence in various countries.

Dr PA Kushalappa, director, Academics JSS University is the chairman of the event and Dr B Suresh, vice chancellor is the patron of the event.  The conveners of the event are Dr HV Raghunandan, Deputy Director – Academics, JSS University,Mysore, Karnataka and Dr S P Dhanabal, Principal, JSS College of Pharmacy.

The objective of the training workshop is to give a fillip to herbal  drug discovery, innovation and deliberate on key applications in herbal medicine. The topics covered are Paradigm shift in herbal drug research and development – Bio similar approach?, Computer Aided Drug Discovery, Intellectual property, standards for plant based research, processes and products, conserving medicinal and aromatic plants, newer approaches to pharmacological screening of natural products, regulations governing registration of herbal products.

The two-day event is a platform to comprehend the global scenario in the herbal medicine research. It would provide an insight into the he traditional medical practices in India and the development of herbal drugs industry and its formulations.  Further it would also identify mutual areas of interests amongst non aligned countries and discuss possibilities of collaborations in research, manufacture, teaching and practice of herbal medicine.

This training workshop has been designed for scientists, academicians, industry professionals, research scholars and post graduate students interested in the areas of drug discovery and herbal medicines.