Pilani, September 25, 2024 – The Department of Pharmacy at BITS Pilani, in association with the DST-supported BITS-Technology Enabling Centre (BITS-TEC), celebrated World Pharmacists Day with a distinguished panel of industry experts. World Pharmacists Day is a day to recognize and celebrate pharmacists' crucial role in building healthier communities around the world. The event's theme, “Pharmacists: Meeting Global Health needs”, emphasized the critical role of collaboration between academia and industry in advancing pharmaceutical innovation.

The Pharmacy Department of BITS Pilani, established in 1950 under the visionary leadership of the late Prof. M. L. Schroff, widely regarded as the Father of Pharmacy Education in India, has grown into one of the most esteemed Schools of Pharmacy in the country. Currently ranked 3rd in the NIRF rankings, the department continues to excel in both teaching and research. In his opening remarks, Prof. Rajeev Taliyan, Head of the Department, emphasized the department’s significant contributions to the field of pharmaceutical education and cutting-edge research, underscoring its legacy of excellence.

The event was graced by esteemed chief guests, including Dr. Ramakrishna Vydana, Deputy General Manager at Sun Pharma, who holds a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences and an MBA; Mr. Pawan Kumar Verma, Assistant General Manager at Alembic Pharmaceuticals, a B.Pharm and MBA graduate; and Mr. Mithilesh Nagpure, an expert in Quality Assurance with over 18 years of experience.

The occasion was further elevated by the presence of Prof. Sudhirkumar Barai, Director BITS Pilani Pilani Campus, and Prof. NVM Rao, Dean Administration. Prof. Barai, highlighted the pivotal role pharmacists play in global healthcare. He emphasized the importance of fostering collaboration between academia and industry, using the modern tools of AI and Machine Learning, noting that partnership of science and engineering fields are key to driving innovation and preparing students for the challenges of the evolving healthcare landscape.

Dr. Ramakrishna Vydana presented an insightful session on the future of pharmaceutical research, focusing on biowaivers and virtual bioequivalence. He elaborated on the potential of AI and machine learning (ML) tools to simulate drug formulation outcomes, saving both time and resources in the drug development process. He emphasized that these innovations could reduce the need for costly human trials, while ensuring more effective and affordable treatments.

A highlight of the event was a short skit performed by students, which touched on the dangers of addiction and the positive role hobbies and supportive communities play in overcoming it. The centerpiece of the event was a panel discussion featuring industry representatives and academia, moderated by Prof. Deepak Chitkara, Coordinator of BITS-TEC. The "Bridging the Gap: Industry-Academia Synergy for Accelerating Pharma Innovations" session saw active participation from students, faculty, and industry experts, resulting in a vibrant exchange of ideas and perspectives on the future of pharmacy.

The event, convened by Prof. Atish Paul, was a testament to BITS Pilani’s commitment to the Department of Pharmacy to creating a robust platform for innovation and industry-

academic collaboration in the pharmaceutical sciences.