The Department of Pharmaceutical Technology at Paavai Engineering College successfully organized a research talk on “Drug Discovery and its Pipeline” on 12th February 2025. The event aimed to provide valuable insights into the intricate process of drug discovery, including its various stages and challenges. The session was delivered by the esteemed guest speaker, Dr. M. Nachiappan, Research Associate, Structural Parasitology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (IGCEB), New Delhi.
The program commenced with an invocation led by Sathya Sri and Ms. D. Kogina from the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology. This was followed by a warm welcome address delivered by V. Sandhiya, a third-year student, who introduced the purpose of the event. The Principal of Paavai Engineering College, Dr. M. Premkumar, delivered the presidential address, emphasizing the significance of drug discovery and its impact on the pharmaceutical industry. He highlighted the crucial role of Pharmaceutical Technology students in the future and shared his views on the relevance of pharmaceutical scientists, particularly in the context of COVID-19. He also elaborated on ancient methods of drug discovery, illustrating how modern technology integrates traditional techniques.
In recognition of the guest speaker’s contributions to research in Structural Parasitology, the Principal presented a token of appreciation to Dr. M. Nachiappan. The session also marked the official release of the department’s magazine, “NexGen Pharma Magazine,” which was unveiled by the Chief Guest and the Principal. The introduction of the esteemed speaker was given by P. Sobika, a second-year student of the department.
Dr. M. Nachiappan delivered an insightful lecture on the drug discovery process and its pipeline. He covered key aspects such as target identification and validation, high-throughput screening, lead optimization, preclinical and clinical trials, and regulatory approvals. He also addressed the challenges in drug discovery, including cost, time constraints, and success rates. The role of structural biology and computational tools in accelerating drug development was discussed in detail. He shared a case study on his current research in drug discovery and presented pictorial representations of proteins, drug discovery pipelines, and various methods and techniques involved in the field.
The session was interactive, with students and faculty members actively engaging in discussions, gaining a deeper understanding of drug research methodologies. The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by R. Kowsalya, a third-year student of Pharmaceutical Technology, who expressed gratitude to the guest speaker, faculty members, and participants for their contributions to the event’s success.
A total of 210 participants, including staff and students from the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Paavai College of Pharmacy & Research, and the Departments of Biotechnology and Food Technology, attended the session.
The research talk on “Drug Discovery and its Pipeline” provided a comprehensive overview of the drug development process and its significance in modern pharmaceutical research. The session was highly informative and encouraged students to explore career opportunities in drug research and development. The Department of Pharmaceutical Technology at Paavai Engineering College looks forward to organizing more such enlightening sessions in the future to enhance students’ knowledge and research acumen.
