The Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MCOPS) had organised a staff development programme on 'Technological advances in cosmeceuticals, nutraceuticals, biopharmaceuticals and herbal drugs' with the sponsorship of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) from February 5 to 18, 2007.

The programme had witnessed a participation of many including faculty from the hosting institution and other pharmacy colleges of Karnataka. Nearly 15 spokespersons shared their expertise with the pharmacy teachers.

Delivering the keynote address M V Kamath, veteran journalist and chairman of Prasar Bharathi, emphasised the need to do research and develop our own technology. So it would pave the way for quality drugs and nutraceuticals at affordable prices. Presently a lot of drugs are developed by the American companies and are priced exorbitantly.

He has also put forward a suggestion that the government of India should invite 60 Nobel laureates this year and get them speak on relevant scientific topics at 60 different universities, which could be published in a book form for the benefit of young people. He had already conveyed this to the president of India, Kamath added.

The seminar proper was marked by a number of important lectures by noted resource persons. Harvinder Polpi (Ranbaxy New Delhi) had delivered the initial lecture titled, 'globalisation scenario of biopharmaceuticals'. Dr Nanjan (JSS College of pharmacy, Ooty) gave a lecture on the recent developments and challenges in phytomedicine.

Nanotechnology was the subject of Dr Satyanarayana's (MIT, Manipal) lecture and Dr Prakash Rao (NITK, Surathkal) expressed his concern over the environment through a talk on 'Protection of environment, using biotechnological methods'.

Dr Sathish Rao and Dr P M Gopinath (both from Manipal Lifesciences Centre) gave lectures relevant to their areas of specialization. Whereas the former spoke on animal models for screening anticancer drugs, the latter dealt with toxicological studies through cytogenetic approiaches. Dr Satyamoorthy, head of Manipal Life Sciences, explained on 'gene mapping'. Dr Paranjothy (Banglore) gave two lectures, one on current trends in cosmeceuticals, the other on nutraceuticals.

The event had also witnessed lectures from many other eminent speakers. At the valedictory function, certificates were distributed to the participants.