The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, is looking to enter academic collaborations with leading pharmaceutical companies in the state, it is learnt.

The Institute, launched in last October and located in the land of Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd, is in discussions with the pharmaceutical companies and all of them have agreed to collaborate with the Institute in principle. As per planned collaboration, the students will be able to access the companies for their project work. It is learnt that seven to eight city based companies have agreed to co-operate with the institute. The Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Hyderabad, currently acts as the mentor institute for this newly formed centre.

In an interaction with Pharmabiz, Dr Prakash V Diwan, project director of NIPER Hyderabad, said, "We are in discussions with a number of companies and all of them agreed to cooperate with us. As part of the syllabus the students have to complete project work in the second year and as per the understanding with these companies the students will be able to access the companies for their project work". However, he has refused to name the companies.

It is also learnt that admission of the second batch into NIPER Hyderabad, which has commenced along with other centres in Patna, Kolkata and Ahmedabad with a view to groom skilled professionals for the pharmaceutical industry, will be held in the month of July through all India entrance and GATE exam. The centre, which has been created as a centre of excellence for higher education, research and development in pharmaceutical sciences, offers post graduate degrees in Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology & Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Analysis. As per the institute, the number of programmes would be increased and PhD programmes would also be commenced in the future.