Number: 2001-048-2-700
Title: Research and training in medicinal chemistry in India,
Pakistan and Sri Lanka: A comprehensive survey to ascertain status
and sophistication of faculties, doctorate programs, etc. -Recommendations
for a standardized curriculum
Task Group
Chairman: Mukund
S. Chorghade
Members: Veena
M. Chorghade, Paul
Erhardt, C. Robin
Ganellin, Naofumi Koga,
Antonio Monge-Vega,
Thomas J. Perun, John
G. Topliss, and Bharat
K. Trivedi;
From India: Anand
Apte, S. Chandrasekaran,
Mukund K. Gurjar,
V. M. Kulkarni,
Baldev Kumar, R.A.
Mashelkar, G. S.
R. Subba Rao, J. S.
Yadav, and Yogeswara
Rao;
From Pakistan: Atta-Ur-Rahman;
From Sri Lanka: --
Objective:
Survey the status of Medicinal Chemistry Training in South Asia;
recommend a comprehensive curriculum to ensure high levels of technological
sophistication, implement the state-of the -art syllabus into several
new Medicinal Chemistry Training programs in the strategic triad of
academia, government and industry and to catalyze co-operation between
the laboratories on the subcontinent and selected organizations in
the Western industrialized world. A joint task force will harmonize
the process and possibly lead to reciprocal exchange visits allied
with funding for advanced training for researchers in Medicinal Chemistry
Description:
The Indian (and South Asian) pharmaceutical sector has achieved
global recognition as a low cost producer of bulk chemicals and formulation
products. It is, however, in its infancy regarding the development
of internationally patentable New Chemical Entities. This area is
receiving increased attention at the highest levels of the government
and industry. With the new IPR regime (under GATT and WTO accords)
being implemented in 2005, all major pharmaceutical companies in India
are experiencing a paradigm shift and have started soliciting strategic
partnerships with Western companies to accelerate the introduction
of new molecules for emerging markets, as well as selected global
niche positions. The R&D thrust, is focused on development of new
drugs and innovative/indigenous processes for known drugs. Academic
and government institutions have also announced ambitious plans to
be in the forefront of research; building of facilities and recruitment
of personnel has been initiated.
This ambitious program has been hampered and thwarted by the lack
of highly skilled scientists trained in the art and science of medicinal
chemistry. Recruiting of personnel in this field is heavily dependent
on recruiting scientists living abroad. There is a dearth of faculty
and courses in medicinal chemistry; research and training opportunities
are thwarted by high degree of fragmentation in various degree programs.
Industry has to resort to "on the job training " of organic chemists.
Our soon to be completed survey highlights many of these issues and
focuses on the training activities that need to be undertaken by industry
to meet its insatiable demands. We have developed a high quality "Standard
Curriculum in Medicinal Chemistry" that could be implemented as a
standardized curriculum in academic institutions. This will be a valuable
step towards ensuring a cadre of scientists trained in the field;
the IUPAC imprimatur will guarantee a uniformly high standard of sophistication.
Funding will be applied from Govt. agencies and industry for sabbatical
visitors from Asia to collaborate with their counterparts in the industrial
West.
Progress:
Last Update: 9 August 2002
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