The Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Amrita School of Pharmacy, in collaboration with the Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) – Kerala State Branch, successfully organized the National Conference on Drug Design and Discovery 2025, bringing together eminent researchers, academicians, industry professionals, and students to explore transformative trends in pharmaceutical innovation.
The conference aimed to highlight the rapid evolution of drug discovery driven by artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), molecular modeling, and computational tools, and to discuss how these technologies are revolutionizing the process of identifying, optimizing, and validating new therapeutic agents.
As a curtain-raiser to the main conference, a hands-on Pre-Conference Workshop was conducted to equip participants with practical knowledge and skills in computational drug discovery. The workshop featured two specialized modules — Molecular Docking Studies and Network Pharmacology — led by experts from Amrita School of Pharmacy.
The Molecular Docking Studies module was conducted by Dr. Bijo Mathew, Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, with support from PhD scholars Ms. Sachithra S. The session introduced participants to ligand–receptor interactions, protein and ligand preparation, virtual screening, and scoring functions using MZ Dock software, providing a strong foundation in structure-based drug design.
The Network Pharmacology module, led by Dr. Aneesh T. P., Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, and supported by PhD scholars Ms. Sonu Benny and Mr. Vishnu V. R., guided participants through constructing protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks, using the STRING Database and Cytoscape for visualization and analysis, and interpreting biological pathways for multi-target drug discovery.
The main conference featured a series of expert talks and interactive sessions focusing on AI and ML in drug design, molecular dynamics simulations, target-based screening, and systems biology. Distinguished speakers included Dr. T. K. Manoj Kumar, Professor and Dean (Research), School of Digital Sciences, Digital University Kerala; Dr. Dhivya Shanmugarajan, Manager – Scientific Specialist, Department of Life Sciences, BIOVIA ALTEM; Dr. Wilbee D. S., CM’s Nava Kerala Post Doctoral Fellow and Assistant Professor, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram; and Dr. Bijo Mathew, Professor, Amrita School of Pharmacy.
Participants also presented posters and engaged in technical discussions, receiving valuable feedback from experts. The conference provided an enriching academic experience, promoting collaboration between academia and industry while encouraging young researchers to engage in computational and AI-driven drug discovery.
The National Conference on Drug Design and Discovery 2025 reaffirmed Amrita School of Pharmacy’s commitment to advancing innovation in pharmaceutical sciences and its dedication to fostering interdisciplinary research that bridges technology and healthcare for societal benefit.
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