In a bid to encourage and motivate the young talents in the area of nanotechnology applications in drug delivery, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) commenced a five-day winter school on Nanotechnology in Advanced Drug Delivery at its campus.

Prof Amarnath Maitra, advisor to the vice-chancellor for nanoscience and nanotechnology, University of Delhi, who was the chief guest at the function, delivered the inaugural address on Nanomedicines: Future Therapeutic Agents.

"Sponsored by Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, this winter school will focus on the synergy developing between nanotechnology and health care," said the organisers.

The school will feature lectures by expert faculty from India and abroad. There will be technical presentations and demonstrations on advanced microscopy techniques like atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy as well as nano-sizer and nano-invasive animal imager.

"Fifty students are being selected for this school. They will be given a chance to make an oral presentation on their research work. A similar winter school was conducted in December 2007. This workshop will serve to demonstrate the intrinsic ability of nanotechnology to drive new paradigm shifts in healthcare," the organisers added.