Drug development has become increasingly complex, time consuming and expensive. As a result there is an increased focus on making clinically established drugs perform better therapeutically in terms of efficacy, safety and improved patient compliance by designing novel and patentable technologies or delivery systems. This has led to a paradigm shift in drug delivery technologies from conventional dosage forms to controlled release and sophisticated delivery systems. These systems are based on the concepts of biopharmaceutics and pharmacokinetic driven by pharmacodynamic activity and therapeutic needs. The emergence of the Biopharmaceutic Classification System (BCS) based on the two tenets of absorption namely solubility and permeability has further simplified drug development program form a regulatory perspective. About 20 drugs, which are not only of clinical significance but also, model drugs representing various classes were chosen by the department to carry out research and projects in the area of conventional and novel drug delivery systems, biopharmaceutics and pharmacokinetic evaluation, bioavailability and bioequivalence testing, preformulation, formulation development and stability testing.

The department of pharmaceutics is one of the key departments of the Institute. It is equipped with state of the art facilities to undertake research in drug development and delivery. In the frontier area of Biomaterial research, the focus will be for synthesis and characterization of new biodegradable polymer, their formulations for various drug delivery systems, to improve surface biocompatibility of medical devices and their invitro/invivo evaluation. To strengthen our research potential, nanotechnolgy will be utilized to prepare effective carriers to deliver the drugs at diseases targets and effort will be taken to initiate gene delivery program in our department.

The academic records of the department

The Department of Pharmaceutics is being recognised as Research centre leading to the award of Ph.D in Pharmaceutics by the T.N.Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, Chennai. · Dept. of Pharmaceutics has Post Graduate course with 6 annual intake. · Dept. of Pharmaceutics has Post Graduate course with 6 annual intake.

· Many industrial collaborative research projects are being undertaken.

· The faculty members of the department are well qualified and experienced in their specialization.

· The laboratories are well equipped with sophisticated equipments.

· A pilot plant of liquid oral section is established in the department with AICTE grant under EMD scheme.

· The faculty members of the department attended number of National and International Seminars & Conferences. They published their research findings in National & International reputed Journals.

· 55 research papers have been published till date. More than 60 papers have been presented in National and International Conferences.

· The department is well equipped with sophisticated instruments. The consultancy cell undertakes regular consultancy work to the students of other colleges. · Every month the faculty meet together and discusses about the recent trends in Pharmaceutical Chemistry. · Our faculty involve innovative teaching methods by utilizing Audio, Video, CD’s, group discussions, quiz programs and panel discussions to our students.

· The department has received grants from Tamilnadu Pharmaceutical Sciences Welfare Trust (TNPSWT)

· The department is involved in various research activities like synthesis of novel lead molecules, molecular modeling studies, Peptide synthesis, analytical method of newer drugs and analytical method of validation. The Instrumentation Lab boasts of a HPLC and UV Double-beam spectroscopy.

· Regularly number of research publications made in National and International referred journals by our staff and students

· Our department staff honoured as referee in many National and International journals.

·The department involves various research activates like authentication of medicinal plants, standardization of herbal drugs, isolation and evaluation of therapeutically important phytoconstituents histochemical studies, isolation, formulation and evaluation of volatile components and characterization of isolation compounds.

· Faculty members have been attending various seminars, workshops and conferences both National and International. They have also been presenting and publishing their research findings in referred National / International journals.

· The department has received various grants from All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), New Delhi under Research and Development Programme, Tamilnadu Pharmaceutical Science Welfare Trust (TNPSWT), Chennai, Tamilnadu State Council for Science and Technology (TNSCST), Chennai.

· The department organized many state level workshops and Staff Development Programme (SDP) sponsored by the AICTE, New Delhi.

· The department maintains a herbal conservation area ( 1 acre) having 100 species of various medicinal plants to promote herbal research.

· The Pharmacology Department is keeping abreast of development in other states and other countries. · The department has salient features which includes well equipped laboratories that enable us to evaluate and validate the pharmacological effects of naturally occurring and pure synthetic compounds. Innovative teaching methods using audiovisual teaching aids are undertaken.

· The department is having unique features to do biological screening.

Beginning from the academic session 2004-2005, PCPSG has introduced a new course leading to the award of M. Pharm. in Pharmacy Practice. The three core areas identified for this department are Clinical, Hospital and Community Pharmacy. In a very short span of time, the department has made significant progress and has been able to evolve on the first two areas by developing a strong interface with three major hospitals in the region.

One of the missions of the department is to provide quality-teaching programs that will prepare the students for entry into all areas of professional pharmacy practice.

The department intends to promote research and service, demonstrating excellence in professional practice and outreach. Currently, the emphasis is placed on principles of pharmacotherapy and practice management for the purpose of advancing quality cost-effective pharmaceutical care. The Department of Pharmacy Practice is committed to:

· Development of long-term functional practice skills in its students, and others in the profession

· Development and practice of systematic approach to identification and finding solutions of drug-related problems

· Implementation of Good Pharmacy Practice Points for Clinical pharmacists and for clinical pharmacy educator

· Research leadership in desired areas of excellence and developing areas especially pertaining to the rural health

· Development of interdisciplinary research programs within the Institute and others schools of Pharmaceutical sciences in the country

· Leadership in national, state and local professional associations and a strong role in developing future practice standards and models

· Provision of the highest level of pharmaceutical services to the citizens of country

The department intends to grow into the following areas and looks forward to collaborate with external agencies

· Research into the drug-related healthcare issues

· Identifying, monitoring and solving drug-related problems

· Establishment of clinical pharmacy services

· Drug utilization reviews and cost containment issues in hospital pharmacy

· Setting up of Patient counseling facilities in hospitals

· Offering Continuing Professional Education (CPE) programs for all sections of the profession .

The key feature of the department · The department of Pharmacy Practice emphasizes on specialization in Hospital and Clinical Pharmacy and has a well-stacked Library. · The faculty members of the department are well qualified and experienced in clinical specialty.

· The department laboratories are well equipped with sophisticated equipments and rapid access Internet facilities.

· The college has MoUs with three multi specialty hospitals in the city, which encompasses Seahorse hospital, Maruthi hospital and Kaveri Medical center hospitals. Latest equipment and facilities are available in these hospitals, where all major, advanced, invasive and non-invasive treatment procedures are carried out.

· The faculty members of the department attend a number of National and International Seminars & Conferences. They publish their research findings in reputed National & International Journals.

· Facilities like Drug Information Center and Clinical research activities including patient medication counseling are available for providing the best knowledge regarding healthcare in community pharmacy.

· The department is releasing a quarterly-‘PDIC Newsletter’ that gives news about latest advancement in the field of medicine and therapy.

· Our Laboratory Technology course was started in 1984 with only 12 students but now has a total intake of 40. · The Government runs course by the King Institute of prevention in Medicine and our college are the only two institutions that are recognized by the Government for employment. · Most of our students work in Government Hospitals or in private concern while a few have their own laboratories.Every year, we obtain excellent results and last year we got 100 %.

· Our students undergo regular Hospital training at the C.S.I Mission Hospital as well as at the K.A.P.V Medical College, Trichy.

· Our consultancy wing did blood grouping at the Srimath Andavar College, Trichy.

· Our group of highly talented students and whenever opportunity comes their way, they do not miss to participate it in a highly innovative manner.