The three-day 40th annual conference of the Indian Pharmacological Society began at NIPER in Punjab with Haryana Governor Dr A R Kidwai calling upon the scientists to work in the field of stem cell research and techniques as India has a great scope and opportunity ahead.

`` "There is a great scope and opportunity for the Indian pharma industry to grow and surmount the pharma world. India is the 2nd largest and fastest growing nation in pharma industry. India has talented young scientific brains, technical manpower to drive the country's economy to its best" said Dr. A R Kidwai, who himself had worked as a chemist in the pharmaceutical industry, while inaugurating the event on Thursday. The conference is being hosted by the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at NIPER.

In his inaugural address, he said that Indian pharma industry is competing in the international market and making their way in the European and American market. US FDA has recognized 60 Pharma companies of India. Talking about drug discovery, he said that due to low cost of production and development pharma industry across the world was looking forward for cooperation with Indian pharma industry.

``As India has been recognized as the Pharma hub, there is immense scope for the development of new drugs. India is emerging as the largest producer of Pharma products. Pharmaceutical scientists have to work in the field of stem cell (in the repairing of human organs like heart, liver and nervous system without surgical treatment) and Tissue culture and testing techniques. Look for better testing facility and quality manpower,'' he said.

He appealed the Indian Pharmacological Society and industry to bridge the deficiency of the pharmaceutical barriers. He said that if the growth rate of the country continues to grow in this manner, India would be amongst the top three economic powers of the world.


In his welcome address, Prof. P Rama Rao, director, NIPER and organizing secretary of the conference greeted the Guests, speakers and participants and said that 25 years back in 1982 the IPS meeting was held in PGIMER, Chandigarh . Subsequently another conference was held as recently as in 1995 at Patiala.

In his presidential address, Prof. C Adithan, president of the IPS said that pharmacology was now gaining more importance. Several young bright students are joining postgraduate degrees in pharmacology, even when other avenues in clinical specialty are open to them. Talking about the emerging areas of Pharmacology, he said that clinical research, pharmacogenomics were alternatives to animal testing. He appealed to the Indian pharmacologists to train younger phamacologists to be better teachers and research workers.

Dr P V Diwan, general secretary of the society presented the report of the Indian Pharmacological Society and said that starting from meager number of members, Indian Pharmacological Society was presently having 3612 life members. He added that young scientists and students are showing interest in the drug discovery process, which is a good sign for the progress of the nation.

On the occasion, Dr A R Kidwai, presented the oration awards, prizes and medals to the distinguished scientists viz- Prof. Govind Achari Oration award to Dr. K K Sharma, Col. RN Chopra oration award by Dr Vedasiromani, SC Lahiri Oration award to Dr VN Puri, Saket Pandey Oration to Dr Rakesh Shukla, CDRI Oration to Dr B Dinesh Kumar, NS Dhalla Oration to Dr JB Gupta. PP Suryakumari Prize to Dr JB Majithiya and Dr R Balaraman, NN Dutta prize to Dr R Bhattacharaya, RK Tulsawani and R Vijayraghavan, Uvnas prize to Biswadeep Das and Chanya Shakar, Dr. B Mukherjee prize to BS Shylesh, S Ajitkumaran Nair and S Subramaniam, Dr lalita kameswaran Gold medal endownment prize to Dr Mitali Chatterjee. The society awarded fellowships to Dr. Chandishwar Nath, Lucknow, Dr. Arunabh Ray, New Delhi and Dr Chandra Kant Katiyar, Gurgaon.

Dr. S. S. Sharma, Joint Organizing Secretary presented the highlighted of the scientific programme and objective of the conference. He added that there would be about 72 oral presentations, 400 poster presentations, 6 Oration lectures, and 8 Plenary lectures during the conference.

More than 1000 pharmaceutical scientists, pharmacologists, academicians, and scientists from India, USA , Canada New Zealand, Germany and Netherlands are participating in the three day conference. Several delegates will be presenting their scientific work by oral as well as poster presentation. The organizing committee of the conference feels this conference will provide a unique platform to network the people who are in drug discovery and development and exchange their ideas.