One-day Conference on Translational Drug Delivery: Integrating Research, Innovation & Regulation

A one-day Conference on Translational Drug Delivery: Integrating Research, Innovation & Regulation was organized by Amrita School of Pharmacy in collaboration with Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) Kerala State Branch on 21^st December 2024.

The conference provided a comprehensive exploration of the latest innovations, challenges, and advancements in the field of drug delivery, focusing on translating research into real-world solutions.

Dr. M. S. Sudheesh, HOD and Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutics, Amrita School of Pharmacy, welcomed the gathering. The Presidential Address was delivered by Dr. Sabitha M., Principal, Amrita School of Pharmacy. The conference was officially inaugurated by Dr. P. Jayasekhar, President of the Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) Kerala State Branch. Dr. Deepthy Menon, Professor, Nanobioengineering Group, Amrita School of Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine, extended the felicitation.

Additionally, the January-December 2024 issue of Pharma Cognizance, the newsletter of Amrita School of Pharmacy, was released, and certificates were distributed for the NDDS Discussion Group during the inaugural ceremony.

The event brought together leading experts from industry, academia, and research institutions, who shared their insights on cutting-edge drug delivery systems, including novel drug delivery systems, biomaterials, and targeted delivery strategies.

Keynote speakers included:

• Dr. Mala D. Menon, Professor of Pharmaceutics at Bombay College of Pharmacy, presented on Drug Delivery via the Respiratory Route – Approaches and Challenges in Development and Translation.
• Dr. Krishna Ramalingam Iyer, Head and Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at Bombay College of Pharmacy spoke on Principles of Pharmacokinetics as Applied to Dosage Regimen Design.
• Dr. Varsha Pradhan, Partner-Regulatory Affairs at Roche Products (India) Pvt. Ltd., elaborated on The Role of Regulatory Science in Expediting Access to Innovative Medicines.
• Dr. Prashant Thakker, Formulation Technology Manager at Colorcon South Asia, discussed Technology Innovations in Controlled Drug Delivery.
• Dr. Kaladhar Kamalasanan, Professor of Pharmaceutics at Amrita School of Pharmacy presented on Controlled Release Nanomedicine: New Approaches for Cancer Therapeutics.
• Dr. L. Ramaswamy, Chairman of Sotax India Pvt. Ltd., Board of Director at Ortiv Q3, Secretary General of SPDS, India Ambassador at AAiPS, and Head of Pharma Vertical at USIIC spoke on Pharma Industry & Academia: Enhancing Research & Innovation Towards Excellence.

The conference saw the participation of nearly 200 delegates. An oral presentation competition was also held, with winners receiving certificates and prizes.

A pre-conference workshop on Nano Drug Delivery Systems: Preparation, Characterization, Advanced Imaging & Drying Techniques was conducted on 20^th December 2024, with around 40 delegates attending. This hands-on workshop provided an in-depth exploration of nano drug delivery system preparation, characterization, and advanced imaging techniques. Participants gained practical experience in formulating nanocarriers, characterizing their properties, and optimizing them using cutting-edge methods such as Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), freeze drying, and spray drying.