In a major step towards strengthening industry-oriented pharmaceutical education and creating skilled manpower in herbal drug manufacturing, CSIR–Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Jammu, through its Technology Business Incubator (TBI) and in collaboration with Industrial Biotech Park, on Monday launched a two-month certificate programme on “cGMP Compliant Pilot Plant on Extraction, Formulation and Packaging of Herbal Drugs.” The programme, which will run from June 15 to August 14, 2026, is being organised by BioNEST Bioincubation Centre, CSIR-IIIM-TBI and Industrial Biotech Park (IBTP), Kathua. A training manual for the programme was also released on the occasion. The inaugural session brought together scientists, faculty members and participating students from pharmacy institutions. More than 22 students drawn from different colleges will undergo extensive hands-on exposure in herbal extraction, formulation development, packaging technologies and quality control practices.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR-IIIM Jammu, described the programme as an opportunity to bridge classroom learning with real-world industrial practice. He said that while students may study pharmaceutical manufacturing theoretically, practical exposure to a WHO-compliant Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) facility provides understanding of actual product development standards followed by the industry. He informed participants that CSIR-IIIM houses world-class facilities for extraction, tablet manufacturing, capsule production, syrup preparation and aromatic formulations. He encouraged students to consider themselves future members of the scientific ecosystem and make full use of the training period. Dr Ahmed also highlighted the broader scientific profile of the institute, noting that CSIR-IIIM operates as an integrated model for natural product and phytopharmaceutical drug discovery—from bioprospection and authentication of medicinal resources to extraction, formulation and pharmacological validation. He said the institute possesses advanced infrastructure including a GLP-standard animal house, fermentation pilot plant with capacity up to 5,000 litres, quality assurance systems, central instrumentation facilities and biosafety infrastructure. Referring to ongoing research initiatives, Dr Ahmed said the institute has made progress in phytopharmaceutical drug discovery, with several molecules entering advanced development stages including clinical trials. He also spoke about research work related to medicinal applications derived from cannabis and crocus-based compounds being explored for therapeutic potential.

Earlier, Dr. Saurabh Saran, Senior Principal Scientist and Principal Investigator, CSIR IIIM-TBI, welcomed the participants and termed the programme a first-of-its-kind initiative designed specifically around cGMP operations. He said students would receive direct exposure to extraction, formulation development, capsule and syrup manufacturing, medicinal plant cultivation and pilot-scale processing. As part of the programme, participants will also visit Chattha Farm and gain practical experience at Industrial Biotech Park facilities for large-scale extraction activities. “This initiative has been designed to expose young pharmacy students to advanced public-funded infrastructure and create industry-ready professionals,” he said. Providing an overview of the training structure, Er. Anil K. Katare, Senior Principal Scientist, explained that the programme has been divided into eight structured weeks combining classroom sessions and practical exposure. The curriculum includes modules on cGMP principles, Schedule M requirements, documentation practices, medicinal plant identification, raw material processing, solvent extraction techniques, pilot-scale extraction systems, formulation development, quality control, pharmaceutical packaging and industrial documentation. Participants will gain practical exposure to syrup preparation, tablet compression, capsule filling, extraction operations, packaging lines, coding systems, quality testing and analytical instrumentation including advanced laboratory technologies.

During her remarks, Nodal Scientist, Aroma Mission, Dr Suphla Gupta, urged students to view packaging not merely as aesthetics but as an important scientific discipline. She explained that packaging decisions must be guided by product stability, light sensitivity, shelf life and durability requirements. “Good packaging is not just about appearance; it protects the product and extends its quality and usability,” she told participants. Adding further perspective, Dr Rajkishor Rai, Principal Scientist and Head of Quality Management and Instrumentation Division said the programme has been designed to provide comprehensive understanding of pilot-scale operations, covering raw material handling, extraction technologies, process optimisation, quality assurance and documentation systems. The programme is expected to equip students with practical industrial skills and improve their employability in the rapidly expanding herbal and phytopharmaceutical sectors.