The Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MCOPS) recently organised a one-month summer school for research scholars at the college. The main aim is to appraise doctoral candidates and research scholars of the various advanced research techniques.

During this one month school, a number of excellent lectures, and demonstrations were held. The School was held under the newly constituted Manipal University Research Directorate. Dr N Udupa, principal, MCOPS, who is also the Director of Research of Manipal University co-ordinated the programmes.

Dr H Vinod Bhat, pro vice-chancellor of Manipal University inaugurated the summer school. Dr Bhat is an advocate of research and exhorted the research scholars to strive and discover new drug molecules. He lamented that the pharmaceutical companies have a vice-like grip on healthcare and also called for a portal for open drug discovery.

Dr Udupa gave an overview of the month-long programme.

Dr Shyamala Hande, deputy registrar of MU gave a detail report on MU guidelines for Ph.D. registration. After her presentation, Dr P G Shivananda, former HOD of Microbiology, KMC had a discussion on effective mentorship and supervision of research scholars. Also there was a discussion on ethics of publication from Dr C Mallikarjuna Rao, Professor of Pharmacology, MCOPS. Dr K L Bairy, HOD Pharmacology, KMC spoke on “Ethics of research.” Dr N Sreekumaran Nair highlighted the importance of biostatistics.

All the participants benefited from the AICTE-sponsored Quality Improvement Programme, which was concurrently started with this school. They also attended some of the important lectures delivered during the QIP.

MCOPS had been conducting summer training camps or summer school for the PGs for the last several years. Dr P D Gupta, an adjunct professor of MCOPS used to co-ordinate the events every year along with Dr Udupa. However, this year with the formation of Manipal University Research Directorate, Dr Udupa and his team took over the conduct of the month-long programme.