EC Profiles

PRESIDENT EMERITUS

Prof. H. L. Bhalla

Professor Harbanslal Bhalla, founder president CRS-IC is a renowned educator, researcher, and consultant. He completed a B.Pharm and M.Pharm from Panjab University and a Ph.D. (Tech) from the University of Mumbai. He was associated with Bombay College of Pharmacy since its inception (1957 to 1990) as Professor of Pharmaceutics.

After retirement, he took charge as Founder Director, BV Patel PERD Centre Ahmedabad (1990 to 1996) skillfully steering the Centre to its present status. He also initiated CRS-IC whilst at PERD and is till date associated as President-Emeritus. Later he took the responsibility as Advisor and Research Co-ordinator, SciTech Centre (1997 to 2015). He convened the flagship symposia of CRS-IC Advances in technology and Business potential of NDDS from 1990 to 2005.

Professor Bhalla participated in several national and international conferences and published and commercialized many conventional and controlled release technologies. He is the recipient of all major grants like UGC, CSIR, ICMR, BRNS–DAE from the government as well as from industry.

In apt recognition of his services, Professor Bhalla received Professor Shrivastava National Award, Professor Shroff National Award, APTI Lifetime Achievement award, FIP Lifetime Achievement Award, and BCP Lifetime Achievement Award. His name is also included in ‘Who’s Who’ list of the world and he is a recipient of many Oration awards including AAPS (USA) prestigious fellowship award.

Professor Bhalla also served as Consultant and Co-ordinator of continuing education by Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association and President, Indian Pharmaceutical Congress. He was nominated Council member, FAPA Bangkok, and the European Association of PharmTech (Germany) too.

He is credited with many firsts including Indo-Japan symposium co-ordinator and AAPS Western India chapter coordinator. An active consultant to pharma companies like Sun Pharma, Unichem, and Cadila Pharma, Professor Bhalla has been a keen social worker throughout his life.

PRESIDENT

Dr. Vandana B. Patravale

Dr. Vandana B. Patravale is currently a Professor of Pharmaceutics at the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, India. She has more than 30 years of teaching and research experience.

She has over 200 refereed publications with over 11000 citations 30 granted patents, 20 patents in pipeline, and 2 trademark registries. She has published 5 books and 35 book chapters with international publishers. Dr. Patravale has been active in teaching, research, and service throughout her career. She is listed consecutively in the top 2% of World Scientists in pharmacy on the basis of publications and citations from the time the list was published by Stanford University..

Her areas of research include development of nanocarriers with major emphasis on infectious diseases, cancer and neurodegenerative disorders; medical device development, nanodiagnostics and nanovaccines. She was awarded Most Iconic healthcare (Global) leader award 2023,Topmost healthcare leader Global award(education) 2022,Abdul Kalam Technology Innovation National Fellowship 2021,Fellowship of Indian Chemical Society 2020, Kukreja Oration award 2020,APTIs Dr. Manjushree Pal Best Pharmaceutical Scientist Award 2019, Shri Amrut Mody distinguished researcher award 2018, OPPI women scientist award 2015, Bill Melinda Gates grant award 2015,Best Pharmaceutical Scientist award 2014, VASVIK award 2013, Veneto nanotech award 2013, APTI best teacher award 2012, Fellowship of Maharashtra Academy of Sciences, 2011and K.H. Garda Distinguished researcher award 2009.

She is the Convener of the APTI Women Forum, President  CRS Indian Chapter, Editor CRS Indian Chapter and APTI Women Forum newsletters, and on the editorial board of peer-reviewed journals. She is actively collaborating with researchers as well as industries within the country and abroad and has completed Indo-Swiss, Indo-Ireland, Indo-Japan, and Indo-UK projects. She is executing all major grants from the Indian Government focusing on product development besides projects from the USA and Europe being currently undertaken. She has transferred about 20 + technologies to industry including drug-eluting stents being marketed in more than 65 countries.

VICE PRESIDENT

Dr. John Intru Disouza

Dr. John Intru Disouza is the Principal of SYBES’s Bombay Institute of Pharmacy and Research (BIPR) in Dombivli (East) and has 25 years of academic experience, including over 15 years in leadership roles. He is actively involved in various professional organizations, serving as Vice President of the Controlled Release Society’s Indian Chapter, National Coordinator for APTI Central, and President of the IPA-Kolhapur Local Branch.

He founded the Warana Science & Innovation Activity Centre in 2017, benefiting over 200,000 school students. An accomplished author, Dr. Disouza has written two international books, two national books, and 15 book chapters, with over 175 research papers published.

Dr. Disouza has secured significant funding for various initiatives, including ₹3.5 crore for a ‘Technology Hub’ and ₹2 crore for a Science & Innovation Activity Centre. He has organized numerous events for students and pharmacists, including PharmaZest and faculty development programs.

He has delivered a TEDx talk on healthy eating and presented awareness speeches in Marathi on various health topics. Additionally, he conducts society awareness lectures in rural areas and has published articles to raise awareness about pharmacy.

Dr. Disouza has also organized events for underprivileged children and teachers, collaborating with organizations like Vigyan Prasar and IUCAA. He has been recognized with the Barrister P. G. Patil Best Teacher Award from Shivaji University, Kolhapur, for his dedication to education and community engagement.

SECRETARY

Dr. Sujata Sawarkar

Dr. Sujata Sawarkar is Professor and Head of Department, Pharmaceutics, SVKM’s Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Pharmacy, India. Before joining academics Dr. Sujata Sawarkar was associated with major pharmaceutical companies in India at managerial position, in the field of Research and Development, formulation development of conventional and novel dosage forms for regulated and domestic market. Several oral solid dosage forms and sterile products developed by her team have received approval in US and EU and have been commercialized. She has about total 22 years of research and teaching experience. Her research interests include Formulation Development of novel drug delivery and targeted systems based on nanotechnology for oral, ophthalmic, colonic and vaginal delivery, development of evaluation techniques for novel drug delivery systems, Translational research. Dr. Sujata Sawarkar has been Executive Member of Controlled Release Society (India Chapter) since 2014 and Secretary of Controlled Release Society (India Chapter) CRS IC for 2017-2019. She has been invited reviewer for Indian Drugs, AAPS PharmSciTech, International Journal of Nanomedicine Dove Press, Drug Design, Development and Therapy, Journal of Bioequivalence & Bioavailability, European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics and Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. Dr. Sujata Sawarkar has received research project grants worth about 85 lakhs rupees (8.5 million INR i.e. about 1.19 million USD) from Industry and Government funding agency. She has presented about 50 research papers in national and international conferences like CRS Inc. and AAPS.   She has several papers published in peer reviewed journals like AAPS PharmSciTech, International Journal of Pharmaceutics, Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier systems, Drug Development and Translational Research, Frontiers in Pharmacology, Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery. She has coauthored 5 book chapters and two books. Dr. Sujata Sawarkar has been awarded IDMA award for reviewer, Research and Industry Outcome by SVKM’s Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Pharmacy in 2018, Received Travel Grant from Controlled Release Society and All India Council of Technical  Education for attending and presenting paper at 42^nd & 46^th  Annual Meeting & Exposition of the Controlled Release Society  in July 2015 and July 2019 respectively.

TREASURER

Dr.(Mrs) Madhur Kulkarni

Dr. Madhur Kulkarni is an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Pharmaceutics at SCES’s Indira College of Pharmacy, Pune since 2013. Before joining Indira College of Pharmacy, she was a Pharmaceutics faculty at the Vel’s College of Pharmacy, Chennai for 2 years.

Dr. Madhur Kulkarni completed her undergraduate studies at K. M.Kundanani College of Pharmacy, Mumbai and she obtained her M.Pharm. and Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics from the Bombay College of Pharmacy, Mumbai.

Dr. Kulkarni’s research interests include development of topical and transdermal formulations, solubility and bioavailability enhancement of poorly soluble drugs, and nutraceutical formulation development. She has published 13 peer-reviewed research papers in national and international journals. She has also filed 2 Indian patents and given several scientific presentations in state and national level conferences. To date, Dr. Madhur has guided and co-guided 30 M.Pharm students and two international exchange students under the MHIRT fellowship granted by the National Institute of Health, USA. She has ongoing collaboration with the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii Hilo. Dr. Madhur has coordinated various National and International level conferences, seminars, and workshops.

Before joining academia, Dr. Madhur amassed extensive industrial experience in conventional and novel dosage form development while being a part of various pharmaceutical organizations in India such as Burroghs Wellcome, Indoco Remedies, Lyka labs and Ethypharm. Furthermore, she also worked as a Technical and regulatory professional atthe New Image International, New Zealand, where she acquired hands on experience in formulation, quality control and regulatory aspects of nutraceuticals. After moving back to India, Dr. Kulkarni was retained as a consultant by the New Image International to expand their marketing and sales operations in India. She continues to provide training and consultation to various nutraceutical companies, and she has successfully completed neutraceutical based projects for companies like Merck Consumer health Ltd, Epione Pharmaceuticals, Amicon Rx, and NexGen Pvt Ltd.

Apart from working in industry and academia, Dr. Madhur has also worked as a head clinical and Hospital Pharmacist at Jehangir hospital, Pune. She has worked in a capacity of a clinical pharmacist several times during cardiac surgery camps organized by Health Ministry of Fiji islands.

Madhur is a life member of Indian Pharmaceutical Association, Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India and Society for Pharmaceutical Dissolution Sciences. Since 2017, she has been working as an Executive Committee Member of Indian Chapter of Controlled Release Society Inc.

MEMBER

Dr. Anil M. Pethe

Dr. Anil M. Pethe holds a D. Pharm, B. Pharm, M. Pharm (Pharmaceutics) and Doctorate in Pharmaceutical Sciences from RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur.

At present he is working as Associate Dean at School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, SVKM’S NMIMS Hyderabad campus since August 2019. He is having total 19 years of teaching and research experience. He is serving with SVKM’S NMIMS since last 14 years.

He is having total 38 publications in reputed National and International journals, total 08 International & 40 National Presentations to his credit. He had Visited Malaysia, China, Singapore & Thailand to attend scientific conferences and presented his research work. He has Guided 60 M. Pharm students for their dissertation, presently 2 students are registered for PhD under him. He has delivered 40 invited lectures at various conferences/seminars/workshops at National level. He has Filed 4 Indian Patents (2 under examination, 2 published,) and also Published 2 books and 6 book chapters. He completed one seed grant project of NMIMS & 2 industrial projects.  Recently, he is recommended research grant of 1 Cr by BIRAC on COVID-19 related project.

He is recipient of several awards; few notable awards are, Appreciation award from SVKM’S NMIMS for outstanding contribution for accreditations and ranking 2018., ‘Outstanding Contribution Award’ by APTI, 2015 at Indore., ‘Outstanding Teaching Award’ 2013 by NMIMS Shirpur Campus., Best Faculty Award 2010 by NMIMS University., Best APTI State branch award to Maharashtra state during his tenure as Vice President, 2014., Best Student Award 2000 by IPER Wardha., Silver Medal in B. Pharm and Gold Medal in D. Pharm.

He is a life member of various professional organizations such as IPA, APTI, CRS-IC and served as Vice President APTI Maharashtra state. He is also a Member of UDPS alumni Association & President of IPER alumni association.

MEMBER

Dr. Vaishali Y. Londhe

Dr. Vaishali Y. Londhe is a Professor at Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, SVKM’s NMIMS, Mumbai, since 2009. Before joining academics, she worked in Sun Pharmaceutical Advanced Research Centre as an executive and in Aurobindo Pharmaceutical Limited Research Centre, Mumbai as a Group leader responsible for analytical method development, validation and documentation of ANDA projects. She has completed her graduation, M Pharm and Ph D (Tech) in Pharmaceutics from Bombay College of Pharmacy, Mumbai University.

She has about 23 years of research and teaching experience. Her research interests include solubility enhancement methods like solid dispersions, complexation, SMEDDS, formulation of novel drug delivery systems like nanoparticles, liposomes, transdermal drug delivery using microneedles, films, modified oral delivery like oral films, disintegrating tablets, jellies. She is also interested in microsampling techniques, analytical, bioanalytical method development and validation. She has more than 70 articles in reputed international, national journals and 4 book chapters. She has 4 granted Indian patents. She has guided many M Pharm students. Six students received doctorate degree under her guidance and 4 more are registered. She completed 5 industry projects and 1 SERB CRG research grant project. She received DST International travel grant in 2019 and 2012 to attend and participate in 46th Controlled Release Society Annual meeting and Exposition, Spain and AAPS 2012 Annual Conference and Exhibition, Chicago IL. She is a member of IPA, APTI, CRSIC.

CO-OPTED MEMBER

Dr. Nilesh M. Mahajan

Dr. Nilesh M. Mahajan is working as a Professor and Head, Department of Pharmaceutics at Dadasaheb Balpande College of Pharmacy, Besa, Nagpur. He did his B. Pharm., M. Pharm. and Ph.D. from Sant Gadege Baba Amravati University in year 2000, 2002 and 2012 respectively. He has more than 18 years of teaching and research experience. He has guided 50 post-graduate students and 02 candidates are registered for PhD under his supervision. He has four patents published, out of which two are international and two are National. He has published more than 50 research publications in the journals of repute. He has fetched grants of more than 1 Cr form different funding agencies like AICTE, DBT, and BIRAC. He has developed in-vitro dissolution test apparatus and got a design copyright for “Robotic jaw for the in-vitro dissolution testing of chewing gum” in collaboration with Jigyasa research lab, Nagpur. He has extended the consultancy to several Pharma companies like Apex Pharma, Mumbai, Lensanto Laboratories, Mumbai, Oniosme Research Company, Mohali, Punjab, Maxwell Life Sciences, Mumbai, and Chemfields Pvt. Ltd. Nagpur. He has established strong collaborations with significant research outcomes with several organizations like DRDO, Nagpur Veterinary College, Dept of Physics, RTMNU, Dept. of Chemistry, LIT, Nagpur. He is an editorial board member of two scientific journals. He is a life member of APTI and also a Member of Controlled Release Society – India Chapter. He was invited as a resource person to deliver the talk in several National level seminars, conferences, and workshops. He has organized several scientific events sponsored by National agencies of repute like CRS-IC, APTI, IPA, etc. He has presented several papers in National as well as international conferences and received several awards for best oral and poster presentations. His areas of research expertise are Nanotherapeutics, Crystal engineering, and Polyherbal formulations.

CO-OPTED MEMBER

Dr. Amit Alexander

Dr. Amit Alexander is presently working as an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER-Guwahati), under the aegis of the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India (GoI). Dr. Alexander has teaching and research experience of more than 16 years. He is an Elected member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC), London, United Kingdom (UK), Royal Society of Biology (MRSB), London, United Kingdom (UK), Controlled Release Society-Indian Local Chapter (CRS-IC), Mumbai, Indian Academy of Neuroscience (IAN) and a life fellow of Indian Chemical Society (FICS), Kolkata. To his credit, he has more than 175 scientific publications with a cumulative impact factor of 535, in High impact factor, SCI indexed, peer review journals. He has 14 papers published in the Journal of Controlled Release, Elsevier having an Impact Factor 10.8. His publications Google Scholar citations is 7176, H index: 43 and i10 index: 106. Dr. Alexander is also serving as Co-Ordinator, Bio-NEST Incubation Center at NIPER-G, a project funded by BIRAC, GoI, worth Rs. 345 lakhs to encourage/help the traditional healers for scientific standardization and commercialization of their products while incubating the other researchers by offering appropriate mentoring and infrastructural support. He also serves as the Board of Directors in the Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) NIPER-Guwahati Foundation supported by Atal Innovation Mission, NITI AAYOG, Government of India, worth Rs. 1,000 Lakhs.

Dr. Alexander is a recipient of many National and International Awards like Young Scientist Award-2013, Young Researcher Award 2020, UGC-JRF National Fellowship 2011 and secured Best research presentation position in many National seminal/conferences. He has been recognized as one of the Top 2% Scientific Ranking Worldwide by Stanford University for four consequent years (2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023). At Global platform, he holds the position of Associate Editor in Heliyon, Cell Press, Elsevier Inc., section: Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacology and Toxicology (Impact Factor: 4.0. Also, Review Editor in Biomaterial: Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, Bioengineering and Biotechnology and Materials, Frontier and Editorial Board Member in Drug Delivery Letters, Bentham Sciences.

Dr. Alexander also serves as a Reviewer in many SCI/SCOPUS indexed High Impact Factor journals of renowned publications, including Elsevier, ACS, Taylor & Francis, Natures, Springer- Nature, Springer, Dove Press, Wiley, Frontier, etc. His key research areas are the formulation of Novel Drug Delivery Systems for Alzheimer’s Disease. His lab is also working on the formulation of In Situ Injectable Hydrogels, Solubility Enhancements, and synthesis of mesoporous silica nanoparticles, etc.

CO-OPTED MEMBER

Dr. Sajeev Chandran

Vice President, Pharmaceutical R&D, Lupin Ltd.

Sajeev Chandran in his current role at Pharmaceutical R & D of Lupin, as Vice President- Generics, ADDS, Packaging & IVIVC/ Biopharmaceutics, is involved in leading a diverse research group of formulators, analysts, packaging development, biopharmaceutics & IVIVC experts in design, development & regulatory submission of advanced drug delivery technologies-based brand & difficult to do generic products in oral, ophthalmic and dermatology. Prior to joining Lupin, he served as Assistant Professor and Assistant Dean, at Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani, India. In his research career spanning 20+ years, he holds 27 granted/ filed patents, over 50 research publications in peer-reviewed international journals and over 60 research presentations in national & international conferences/ symposia. He has delivered more than 35 invited talks and supervised three Ph.D. thesis work in Novel Drug Delivery System Design & Development. Dr. Sajeev Chandran obtained his Bachelor of Pharmacy degree with honors from Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi and Master’s in Pharmacy & Ph.D. degree from Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani. He earned his MBA in Operations Management from Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi. He is recipient of FDD Leadership Awards 2019 under the Rising Stars Category, (Jun 2019) at 3^rd Formulation Development & Drug Delivery (FDD) Conclave, Hyderabad by Express Pharma, Indian Express Group; Young Pharmacy Teacher Award- 2008 instituted by Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India and Young Scientist Grant Award in 2005 by Dept. of Science & Technology, Govt. of India, New Delhi.

CO-OPTED MEMBER

Dr. Ganesh Jadhav

Dr. Ganesh Jadhav, a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics with an Executive MBA, has a robust background in pharmaceutical R&D. Specializing in portfolio management, he excels in formulating integrated development strategies. His expertise spans the optimization of pharmaceutical compositions, manufacturing compliance, and due diligence for product licensing and acquisitions. He has expertise in the development of pharmaceutical compositions and diverse experience in New Drug Applications (NDAs), generics, biosimilars, devices and novel drug delivery systems for different routes like parenteral, ophthalmic, respiratory (nebulizer, pMDI, and DPI), solid oral, topical, and transdermal applications.

Dr. Jadhav is recognized for his excellent project and portfolio management skills, highlighting his ability to seamlessly navigate pharmaceutical development complexities, ensuring successful project execution from conception to commercialization.

CO-OPTED MEMBER

Dr. Nikhar Vishwakarma

Dr. Nikhar Vishwakarma is currently working as an Associate Professor of Pharmaceutics at the Department Pharmacy in Gyan Ganga Institute of Technology and Sciences, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India. He has completed his Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour University, Sagar, India under the supervision of Prof. S.P. Vyas. During his Ph.D. he has developed Affinity Regulated Nanosystem(s) for Insulin Delivery. He has received Fellowship for Training of Young Scientist by M.P. Council of Science and Technology, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, Senior Research Fellowship by Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India and the prestigious Newton Bhabha Ph.D. Placement Program Fellowship coordinated by Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India and British Council, United Kingdom (UK) to carry out his Ph.D. work at School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom under the supervision of Dr. Lluisa Perez-Garcia. He has also received 2022 CRS Young Scientist International Travel Grant award from the Controlled Release Society, United States of America (USA) and the 2022 CRS Volunteer of the Year award by Controlled Release Society, United States of America.

He has a teaching experience of more than six years and received two best teacher awards for being instrumental in helping students to achieve excellence in the subject Dosage Form Design and Cosmetic Technology from SRIJAN in collaboration with M.P. Council of Science & Technology (MPCST), Bhopal, India. He possess 02 granted Design Patents, published 05 International Book Chapters and Research/Review Articles in International peer reviewed journals of high repute. He has chaired different Young Scientist Society Events during the Controlled Release Society Annual meeting in 2021 and 2022.

He has been an active member of several societies such as Controlled Release Society, United States of America, Association of Pharmacy Teachers in India (APTI), Executive Committee Member of the Young Scientist Society of Controlled Release Society, USA, Executive Committee Member (Student Representative) in the Controlled Release Society Indian Local Chapter, Mumbai, India. Member of Alumni association of British Council, United Kingdom, Alumni association of Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour University, Sagar, India, and Alumni Association of IPS Academy, Indore, India.