Speaking on the occasion of inaugural session, Dr Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR-IIIM Jammu, described the programme as an opportunity to bridge classroom learning with real-world industrial practice.
He said that while students may study pharmaceutical manufacturing theoretically, practical exposure to a WHO-compliant Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) facility provides understanding of actual product development standards followed by the industry.
He encouraged students to consider themselves future members of the scientific ecosystem and make full use of the training period.
Earlier, Dr Saurabh Saran, Senior Principal Scientist and Principal Investigator, CSIR IIIM-TBI, termed the programme a first-of-its-kind initiative designed specifically around cGMP operations.
He said students would receive direct exposure to extraction, formulation development, capsule and syrup manufacturing, medicinal plant cultivation and pilot-scale processing.
As part of the programme, participants will also visit Chatha Farm and gain practical experience at Industrial Biotech Park facilities for large-scale extraction activities.
“This initiative has been designed to expose young pharmacy students to advanced public-funded infrastructure and create industry-ready professionals,” he said.
Providing an overview of the training structure, Anil K Katare, Senior Principal Scientist, explained that the programme has been divided into eight structured weeks combining classroom sessions and practical exposure.
The curriculum includes modules on cGMP principles, Schedule M requirements, documentation practices, medicinal plant identification, raw material processing, solvent extraction techniques, pilot-scale extraction systems, formulation development, quality control, pharmaceutical packaging and industrial documentation.
Nodal Scientist, Aroma Mission, Dr Suphla Gupta, urged students to view packaging not merely as aesthetics but as an important scientific discipline while Dr Rajkishor Rai, Principal Scientist and Head of Quality Management and Instrumentation Division also addressed the participants.
