Lahore, The University of Lahore (UOL) has become a nexus for scientific exchange with the successful conclusion of the “2nd International and 3rd National Conference on Recent Advances in Drug Discovery and Development (IRAD3),” hosted by its Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB). This significant event attracted over 450 national and international delegates, including eminent scholars and industry experts, to engage in a collaborative discourse on plant-based drug discovery and the integration of academia and industry in advancing therapeutics.
According to The University of Lahore, IRAD3 served as a melting pot for innovative ideas, focusing on the utilization of plant-based activities and compounds to confront various human, animal, and plant diseases. The event emphasized the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to drug discovery and development, encompassing fields such as botany, biochemistry, molecular biology, and biotechnology, and addressing current challenges like drug resistance and identifying novel drug targets.
The conference’s sessions shed light on the critical role of structural biochemistry in drug development and how the paradigm of drug discovery is shifting more towards industry from academia. Presentations and discussions covered a range of topics, from the origins of drugs to the most current methods for studying them, including computational tools.
With an emphasis on the therapeutic potential of herbal medicines, the data presented at the conference is expected to further the isolation of active compounds from plants, leading to the formulation of various plant-based medicinal and agricultural products.
The inaugural session featured Dr. Shahid Munir, Chairperson of the Punjab Higher Education Commission, as the chief guest, while UOL’s own dignitaries, including Prof Dr. Muhammad Ashraf, Pro-Rector, and Prof Dr. Muhammad Iqbal, Dean of the Faculty of Sciences, welcomed attendees and underscored the university’s scholastic achievements.
Acknowledgments were extended by Dr. Ahsan Sattar Sheikh, Director of IMBB/CRiMM, to all the participants and organizers, with Dr. Asma Ahmed, Associate Professor at IMBB, at the helm as the event’s focal person and chief organizer, and Dr. Anam Naz, Assistant Professor at IMBB, hosting the proceedings.
Distinguished international speakers physically present included Prof Dr. Zyta M Ziora from Australia and Dr. Abdul Nasir from China, among others, with additional prominent experts like Prof Dr. Ilkay Erdogan Orhan from Turkey and Dr. Imran Ali from China presenting virtually.
The list of esteemed national speakers spanned renowned figures from academia across Pakistan, all of whom contributed their research insights to the rich tapestry of the event.
The conference’s success, underpinned by support from the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan and sponsors such as H.A. Shah & Sons, served as a foundation for fostering international and national research collaborations, particularly benefiting the student community at UOL.