Mysore/Mysuru: “Drug discovery is not a simple process and it needs huge time and money along with manpower,” opined Prof. K.S. Rangappa, former Vice-Chancellor of University of Mysore and KSOU.

He was speaking after inaugurating the “Two-day International e-Conference on Drug Discovery and Material Science” organised by UG and PG Departments of Chemistry, JSS College of Arts, Commerce and Science, Ooty Road, Mysuru, on Sept.15. 

Stressing on the contribution of Chemists and Biologists to the field of Medicinal Chemistry, he explained how small molecules play a vital role in the drug discovery. 

The ex-VC opined that Chemical Biology is a right platform which is considered as an interface between Chemistry and Biology. 

He also spoke about the processes involved in the drug discovery right from designing the molecules up to the clinical trials. 

Stating that discovery of therapeutic agents for the treatment of diseases is the need of the hour, he called upon the researchers across the globe to pay heed to it. 

Presiding over the inaugural programme, Prof. B.V. Sambashivaiah, Chief Executive of the College, said that timely availability of the drugs is very much needed. 

He told that for a molecule to come into the market as a drug requires tens of years with lot of work from hundreds of scientists. 

Prof. Sambashivaiah said that there are more ways of getting a drug which ranges from accidentally discovered drugs to synthetically obtained ones. He also recalled the efforts of one of the most prominent scientists of India, Prof. C.N.R. Rao who has immensely contributed to the field of Material Science. 

The two-day international conference had four Technical Sessions by eminent scientists from USA, UAE, South Africa and India. There were five invited lectures, 40 oral and 45 e-poster presentations. Students, research scholars, faculty, scientists numbering about 400 from different parts of the world participated in this e-programme. 

Dr. H.C. Honnappa, Principal of the College welcomed. Dr. L. Mallesha, Head, PG Department of Chemistry, spoke about the conference. J.S. Vidya, Head, UG Department of Chemistry, proposed a vote of thanks. M.S. Sushmitha rendered the invocation. Neeraj Nanaiah moderated the inaugural session.