RESEARCH THRUST AREAS - DRUGS AND PHARMACOLOGY

Drug Development / Pharmacology

v     Establishment of a network of pre-clinical toxicology centers for carrying out animal toxicology studies using good laboratory practices (GLP) protocols.

v     Identifying special centers for conducting mutagenicity, teratogenicity and reproductive toxicity studies on new molecules using good laboratory practices (GLP) protocols.

v     Identification of clinical pharmacology units to undertake pharmacokinetics and bioavailability studies using good laboratory practices (GLP) protocol.

v     Good clinical trial centers following national and international good clinical practice (GCP) protocols for effective and well-monitored controlled trials.

v     An appropriate  national mechanism for monitoring adverse drug reactions and post marketing surveillance.

v     Establishing clinical trial methodology for traditional medicine research.

v     Issuing ethical guidelines for biomedical research with special emphasis on clinical trials on drugs/diagnostics/vaccines and herbal remedies.

v     Development of in vitro techniques

-         replacement of in vivo models

-         Targets for screening and basic studies on cell cultures, cell lines, isolated receptors, enzymes etc.

v     Cardiovascular Pharmacology

-         Re-perfusion injury – heart, brain, kidney

-         Thrombosis and sequelae

-         Microvascular disorders – decubitus ulcer, retinal disturbances CNS

v     Clinical Pharmacology

-         Clinical trials of traditional remedies with GCP Norms

-         Pharmacovigilance

-         Pharmacoeconomics – Drug prescribing and compliance

v     Role of Natural Products and Traditional Remedies in :

-         Degnerative and geriatric disorders like osteoporosis, arthritis, memory and learning

-         Metabolic diseases like diabetes, hyperlipidemia

-         Bioenhancers

-         Hepatoprotective

          -         Immunostimulant and adaptogen

-         Oppurtunistic and resistant infections

-         Interaction with modern drugs, concomitant use

v     Cancer Chemotherapy

-         Antimutagenic agents

-         Apoptosis and drugs modifying it

v     Drug Delivery System

-         New delivery systems for targeting alternate routes of administration, altered duration of action.

v     Pharmacogenetics of drug metabolizing enzymes

v     Toxicogenetics including gene environment interaction