PREAMBLE
The department of Pharmaceutics was established in the year 1988 to strengthen research and training in the area of Pharmaceutical Technology. The Department will strive with vision to become a centre of excellence in drug development, with the objective of developing cost-effective newer delivery systems for better medication compliance, students are provided with one of the most dynamic programs in the area of pharmaceutical product discovery and development. The M.Pharm program in Pharmaceutics was initiated in the same year. Followed by the new PG courses such as Industrial Pharmacy, and Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs have been introduced. All the courses are approved and accredited by the various regulatory authorities. Two innovative PG Diploma courses have been initiated including Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs, Nanotechnology and medical devices. In addition, some papers are modified under JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru. The practical hours are increased.
HUMAN RESOURCES
Faculty profile
The department has seven teachers and four supportive staff to handle UG, PG & Research Programs, which is the sanctioned strength of the department. Sixty-six percent of teachers are having more than 10 years of teaching and research experience. Competency of teachers can be explained in terms of handling advanced papers. The department initiated the research activities in the field of pharmaceutical technology which includes drug delivery systems (Tablets, capsules, liquid orals, microcapsules, nanoparticles, transdermal systems etc.), plant-based biopolymers as excipients for developing different delivery system, herbal pharmaceuticals and their standardization, dissolution method development for synthetic API and herbals.
Student’s profile
40 percent of the admitted students are male, 60 percent of students are female. Most of the students admitted are from states other than Tamil Nadu.
Infrastructure
Computers, Server, Wi-Fi, UPS and required software are available in the department. Various instruments are available in the department lab to perform laboratory related work.
Learning Resources
Books and journals are available for the use of students and scholars. The budget for the purchase of books is increased to the extent of 40 percent every year. New Software purchased during the last five years are SPSS-Pharma Calculation and Systat software. SMART Class room facility is available. Modern teaching techniques and tools like LCD are available. Journal club , invited lectures, seminars, workshops, industrial visits, internships, webinar, ICT enabled teaching, etc. are regularly organized for enhancing knowledge.
Students Assessment
The Ph.D. PG and UG students are continuously assessed through the lab work, internal tests, and they are asked to submit assignments which are discussed in student seminars to improve their presentation skills. Project works are also made mandatory. Research audits are conducted in front of expert panel comprising of Honourable Vice- Chancellor, Research Director, Heads of Departments and other teaching staff to monitor the progress in research.
Success Rate
The pass percentage in the last five years is about 100 percent. More than 80 percent of the enrolled students secure 75 percent marks. The entry level average percentage of the marks of the student range between 50-60 percent and the exit level average mark is 70-80 percent.
Counseling and Placement
Among the students who got placement in the previous years, 50 percent are working in industry, 30 percent are teachers, 15 percent have gone for higher studies and 5 percent of them are entrepreneurs.
Faculty Development
Area of specialization of teachers are plant based excipients for drug delivery including nanoparticulate systems, characterization of nanoparticles for Alzheimer’s disease, cerebral malaria, diabetic retinopathy and cervical cancer; Nanoemulsion for improved dissolution and bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs, matrix based drug delivery system for improved patient compliance, Mucoadhesive delivery system and lipid based drug delivery system for better bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs and liposomal delivery systems.
Faculty development is also a main focus of this department and 100 percent of the faculty members attended the orientation programs, refresher courses, seminars, conferences, workshops, training, for updating the latest developments. All the faculty members attended and presented papers and acted as resource person in the seminars and conferences, visited various research laboratories and universities across the country.
Publications & Patents
200 papers were published in international and national reputed journals by the faculty in last five years. The range impact factor, h-index , citation index , SJR, SINP value of 0.063-9.859, 3-9 , 33-287 , 0.11- 1.513 , 0.051-1.922 respectively has been achieved .18 Indian patents are also filed by the department.
Recognitions/ Awards received by the Faculty/ Students
The faculty received various awards from national and international capacities and active participation in various international and national reputed journals as editorial board members.
Students and Research scholars also received various, fellowships from CSIR, ICMR, DST-Inspire, Tamil Nadu welfare association etc. Various academic and research awards in national and international level conferences.
Research and Developments
Various research projects received from various funding agencies such AICTE, DIPAS - DRDO and DST.
Three research projects completed in the last 5 years at a cost of Rs. 58.35 Lakhs sanctioned under NAFETIC programme of AICTE to establish centre of excellence for pharmacokinetics of natural drug molecules. Two more projects sanctioned by AICTE-R&D and AICTE- MODROBS at an amount of 3.65 lakhs and 7.0 lakhs respectively which was successfully completed. More than 6 ongoing projects are under progressing with cost of around 80 lakhs.
Collaboration and Extension
This department has academic and research collaboration with the following National and International institutions:
National
The department has made research collaboration with Bharathiar University, Coimbatore; Hyderabad University, Hyderabad and National Research and Development Corporation (NRDC), New Delhi etc.
International
The reputed universities and industries for initiating the research collaborations are under progress.
Extension activities
Industrial collaboration with pharmaceutical industries like BIOCON Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore, APEX Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., Chennai and ETHIX Pharma, Bilaspur, Chattisgarh, Vedic Lifesciences, Bangalore, Zim Pharmaceuticals. One of the faculty members involved in Health programmes and public awareness programmes under NSS Unit.
Participation of the department in COSIP/COHSSIP/SAP/CAS/DSA/DRS/FIST/ etc.
The department has been sanctioned an amount of Rs. 116.35 Lakhs for scientific equipment’s up gradation under AICTE-NAFETIC and DST -FIST Programs and infrastructural facilities like computer lab etc.
Plan of action of the department for the next five years
- Upgrade of cGMP facilities for Regulatory based consultancy work.
- Establishment of facilities for biopolymer research
- To establish a model - Pharma industry and commercialization