Conferences

A REPORT ON THE CONFERENCE:

Institute of Clinical Research (India), ICRI, India’s premier institution in Clinical Research studies, in association with Department of Sciences & Technology, Government of India, held a two day international conference on Clinical Research & Development in India on April 14 – 15, 2007 at National Institute of Advance Studies, IISC Auditorium, Bangalore.

Professor Dr. S K Gupta, Dean and Director General Institute of Clinical research India during his welcome speech presented how India can emerge as a hub for clinical research, the need for trained clinical professionals and the advantages India has in terms of resources, capabilities of India CRO’s, regulatory environment, the implementation patent regime and implementation of the GCP and ethical guidelines in India.

Dr. N K Ganguly Director General Indian council of medical research ICMR, the chief guest of the conference highlighted the role played by ICMR in setting up of the clinical trail registry, quick evaluation of the pre clinical data, vaccine trials, availability of the drugs for neglected diseases and the draw backs in the system. Dr. Ganguly informed that the amended ICMR guidelines on biomedical research will soon become mandatory through the parliament act. Dr. Laxman Prasad Advisor, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India gave an extensive presentation on the Government initiative in promoting drug discovery and clinical research in India. Dr. Prasad highlighted that under the pharmaceutical research and development programme of the DST, a large number of clinical trials have been sponsored. DST has set up a large number of national facilities to promote drug discovery research and under the programme, several projects have been initiated jointly with a partnership programmed with the academia and industry. The DST programme has a budget of Rs. 150 crore each year.

Dr. Ganguly was awarded by ICRI a lifetime achievement award for his outstanding contributions to promote clinical research.

Thereafter, a ceremonial release of book on clinical research entitled ‘Basic Principles of Clinical Research & Methodology’ was done in presence of Dr. N K Ganguly, Dr. Neelima Kshirsagar, and Dr. Laxman Prasad. All the authors and coauthors of various chapters in the books were awarded with the complimentary copies and the momento by Dr. N K Ganguly and Dr. S K Gupta presented remarks about the book and authors. The authors are the eminent contributors in the field of clinical research both in the Industry as well as academia. To name a few, Dr. Vijai Kumar, MD President & Chief MedicalOfficerExcel Life Sciences, USA, Dr. S.K. Mishra, MD Vice President – Clinical Research & Medical Services , Dabur Research Foundation, Dr. Arun Bhatt, MD President ClinInvent Research (P) Ltd. Mumbai etc…

Eminent speakers from India and Overseas both from academia and industry discussed various topics in clinical Research. The first session chaired by Dr. Vijai Kumar President & Chief Medical Officer Excel Life Sciences, USA addressed the current challenges in clinical research. Jeffrey W Sherman Executive Vice president, Neopharm InC USA presented the challenges in clinical development, Dr. Nermeen Varawalla Vice President PRA International USA shared with the congregation the barriers and solutions for expansion of clinical research in India, Dr. S K Mishra, President Clinical research Dabur Research foundation came through with clinical development of anticancer molecules –challenges and opportunities and other sessions were presided by many other invited eminent speakers from Quintiles, Jubilant clinsys, Fortis, TM Medical college, Clinenvent, Ranbaxy laboratories, Nizam’s Institute, Veeda Clinical research, panacea biotech, PRTM, Dr. Reddy’s labs, Unichem laboratories, Cranfield University, WHO presented and discussed bioethics in clinical research; protection of human subject and opportunities for outsourcing clinical research in India, development of drugs and biologics and pharmacovigilance and risk management.

The two-day conference provided a platform at an international level to address issues related to conduct of Clinical Trials protecting the subject rights and well being. The meeting was attended by senior executives, managers and investigators from industry and academia projecting problems associated with compliance to ICH guide lines and national regulatory bodies of India and other countries.

Book Release:
The first effort to produce a book clinical research in India was made by ICRI. The effort was supported by Department of Science and Technology.