Among the top 60 students from leading international universities in 21 countries, Nehul Saxena from International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi was selected among the top three students at the Novartis International Biotechnology Leadership Camp (BioCamp) that recently concluded in Basel, Switzerland.

Other two individual toppers are from England and Switzerland. Students were evaluated by a jury on their contribution, performance, leadership and teamwork.

“Novartis BioCamp offers young talent the opportunity to interact with leading scientists and to look at entrepreneurship as an option,” explained Ranjit Shahani, vice chairman & managing director of Novartis India Limited. He added, “India has some very bright talent and it’s truly heartening to see a young woman from India win accolades at such a high level. I do believe innovation is the way forward for our country and I hope that Novartis through BioCamp will draw more young people to research, thereby generating new ideas around scientific innovation and improving patient outcomes.”

At BioCamp, workshops and presentations were led by leading scientists and members of top management at Novartis which also includes Rolf M Zinkernagel, MD, a Nobel laureate and member of the Novartis AG Board of Directors, and Prof Susan Gasser, director of the Friedrich Miescher Institute of Biomedical Research.

BioCamp students interacted with Novartis scientists and executives who lead the Company’s approach to drug development and learnt about new breakthrough medicines to address patients’ unmet medical needs. The program is designed to help students understand trends and challenges in the biotechnology and life science sectors as well as gain first-hand experience about starting and running a biotech company.

BioCamp is an international forum for science and business students from around the world to learn, exchange ideas and work together in a highly competitive business environment. Previously hosted in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Cambridge, Massachusetts, this year’s seminar marked the fourth time the International BioCamp was hosted at the state-of-the-art Novartis global headquarters in Basel, Switzerland.

Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies and offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, eye care, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines and diagnostic tools, over-the-counter and animal health products.