|
Events
Paving way for newer trends
Manjusha Morgaonkar - Mumbai
A one-day conference on research methodology was organised by Maharashtra University
of Health Science (MUHS), Nashik. This conference was organised for postgraduate
students of ayurved, homeopathy and unani, with participation from specialists
and doctors from research and pharmacology fields to come together to listen,
discuss and present their research views and knowledge on the topic. The conference
was chaired by Dr Urmila Thatte, Head of Department of Clinical Pharmacology,
TN Medical College and BYL Nair Hospital, Mumbai; and Dr Ashok Vaidya, Director,
Research Director, ICMR Advanced Centre of Reverse Pharmacology. This conference
was held at Haffkins Institute, Mumbai. The majority of the students were undergraduates
and postgraduate students from the institute.
From left: Dr Sudhesna Dalvi, Dr Ashok Vaidya, Dr M E Yeolekar, Dr Mrudula
Phadke and Dr S G Deshmukh |
The conference provided an opportunity for academics to share
the latest thinking on research strategies, tactics and paradigms. With all
these new ideas entering this arena, this conference offered an opportunity
to students to keep in touch with some of these issues. Dr Mrudula Phadke, Vice
Chancellor, MUHS, said, "The aim of the seminar was to make students aware
of the intricate details on how research is done and also to pave the way for
better humanity and newer trends in methodology." Dr Nilima Kshirsagar,
Director, MUHS could not be present at the conference.
The event featured talks by prominent speakers from distinguished fields on
subjects like Good Clinical Practice (GCP), role of biostatisticians in clinical
research, reverse pharmacology, standardisation of herbal drugs and career opportunities
in pharmaceutical industry. Prajakt Barde, Assistant Medical Director, Serum
Institute of India, Pune, spoke on 'Good Clinical Practice—golden path
of research'. GCP is an international ethical and scientific quality standard
for designing, conducting, recording and reporting trials. It provides assurance
to the public that the rights, safety and well being of subjects are protected.
Quality data is a consequence of credible and accurate data and results, which,
along with the protection of the trial subject's rights, integrity and confidentially,
reflects ethics. So when quality data and ethics come together, they equal to
GCP. Barde also explained the principles, Indian guidelines, ICMR guidelines
and essential documents required for GCP.
Dr Nithya Gogtay, Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacology,
KEM, discussed the topic 'Role of biostatisticians in clinical research' and
empahsised the importance of biostatistics in research. Biostatistics is an
art and science of collection, compilation, presentation, analysis and logical
interpretation of biological data affected by multiplicity of factors. Dr Nirmala
Rege, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Seth
GS Medical College and KEM, discussed 'Framing research questions'.
Vaidya discussed 'Reverse pharmacology—the rising sun
of drug delivery' and dwelled on the crucial role of reverse pharmacology in
drug delivery, which is emerging as a novel route for new drugs. This was followed
by Dr Shailesh Nadkarni, Director, Dhootpapeshwar, who spoke on 'Standardisation
of herbal drugs', which, in case of herbal drugs, is a process of delivering
a product with a specified minimum level of one or more plant constituents.
Dr Viraj Rajyadhyaksha, Senior Manager, Operations, Planning and Management
Medical and Research Division, Pfizer, stunned the audience with his enthusiastic
speech on 'Career opportunities in pharmaceutical industry'. He shared the overall
success formula in broader sectors and career streams in the pharma industry.
He also spoke about the role of clinical research in pharma. The conference
then continued with workshops related to research methodology on basic preclinical
study, protocol of clinical trial, patient information sheet and informed consent
form, case report form, practical biostatistics and quality control. It was
well attended by students, academicians and teachers of the institute.
manjusha.morgaonkar@expressindia.com
|
