Women Leadership, Innovation and Youth Skills Mark Day Two of IPC–IPSCON 2025 at Panjab University

Chandigarh: The 55th Annual Conference of the Indian Pharmacological Science (IPC–IPSCON 2025) at Panjab University today discussed women leadership, healthcare innovation and youth empowerment during the second day of its three-day international conference on pharmacology.

A large number of students, national regulators, global experts and senior industry voices participated in the conference.

Today’s highlights included four oration sessions and sixteen symposiums held in four halls. These focused on women’s leadership, new ideas in healthcare, regulatory harmonisation and the growing part young pharmacologists are set to play in India’s medical and technological landscape.

A key draw for students was the symposium on Empowering Women in Pharmacology. Speakers traced leadership journeys and the impact of women researchers in global health. Sessions on startups and entrepreneurship urged students to explore new roles in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors.

A special session marked 50 years of neuropsychopharmacology at UIPS under the title “Progress of Neuropsychopharmacology: A Legacy of UIPS”. PU Alumnus Dr Chandrashekhar announced a Rs 5 lakh endowment, with four awards given to UIPS graduates and postgraduates for excellence in pharmacology and allied areas.

International inputs came from Dr Olga Tarasova of Russia, who spoke on “Integrating Informatics, Innovation and Community for a Healthier Future”, stressing the rising value of advanced computational tools in drug development.

Students also attended sessions on careers for clinical pharmacists, menstrual health, AI-based medication safety and women’s leadership in healthcare. Two Nari Shakti Awards for Best Women Pharmacologist 2025, instituted by IPS, were presented during the programme.

A panel on global approaches to healthcare brought together Himachal Pradesh State Drug Regulator Dr Manish Kapoor, Punjab State Drug Controller Mr Sanjeev Garg and Haryana State Drug Controller Mr Lalit Kumar Goel.

The academic line-up featured the B.N. Ghosh Oration by Dr Chanda Kulkarni on advances in epilepsy research. Dr Tejal Gandhi delivered the Dr N.S. Dhalla Oration on the cardioprotective promise of Betulin as a future therapy.

The day ended with the General Body Meeting of the Indian Pharmacological Society 2025, followed by a gala dinner.