The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), SAS Nagar, Punjab and Bristol Myers Squibb are jointly organising an international symposium on ‘Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK)--Applications toward Drug Discovery and Development’ from February 17-19, 2012 at the NIPER premises.

The main aim of the symposium is to provide a better understanding of the role that drug metabolism, drug transporters, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics play in the drug discovery/development process; to evaluate new and current techniques and models associated with drug metabolism and drug transporters, as well as development of pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic models; to gain insights into the issues encountered during the drug discovery process and the interface between discovery and clinical development and to identify processes for reducing the attrition of drug candidates through a better understanding of metabolism and in vitro and in vivo correlations.

The event will primarily be a lecture-based symposium intended for students and scientists from industry, academia, health-based government organizations, and healthcare professionals with a background in chemistry, biology, or the pharmaceutical sciences, with some experience in the principles and techniques of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics.  The symposium is also intended for experienced researchers in these areas who wish to broaden or supplement their area of expertise, as well as contribute to the discussion topics

The main speakers of the symposium includes Prof. K K Bhutani, director, NIPER, Dr Anagha Damre, Piramal Life Sciences, India, Dr Bill Smith, Pfizer, USA, Dr Chandra Prakash, Biogen Idec, USA, Dr Deepak Dalvie, Pfizer, USA, Dr Dhiren Thakker, University of North Carolina, USA, Dr Girish Gudi, Glenmark, India, Dr Krishna Iyer, Bombay College of Pharmacy, India, Dr Michael Sinz, Bristol-Myers Squibb, USA, Dr Prasad Bharatam, NIPER, India, Dr Punit Marathe, Bristol-Myers Squibb, USA, Dr Rajesh Patil, Semler, India, Dr Rajiv Sharma, Piramal Life Sciences, India, Dr Ravi Rahavendran, Pfizer, USA, Dr Jayasagar Gundu, Lupin Pharma, India, Dr Shashank Rohatagi, Piramal Life Sciences, India, Dr Subramaniam Vangala, Sai Adventium, India, Suresh Gupta, Bristol-Myers Squibb, India, Dr Thangam Mariappan, BBRC, India, Dr Venkat Manohar, IICMS, India.