Pharmacology

1. Staff & Scholars

Faculty
Prof. Chowdhury Nazrul Islam MBBS MD
Prof Amal Kanti Das MBBS, MD
Dr. Susmita Chakraborty (Das) MBBS, MD
Dr. Mitali Chatterjee MBBS, MD, PhD, MAMS
Dr. Suparna Chatterjee MBBS, DTMH, MD
Dr. Avijit Hazra MBBS, MD
Dr. Lopamudra (Dhar) Chowdhury MBBS, DA, MD
Dr. Tridib Kumar Ray MBBS
Dr. Tanmoy Biswas MBBS MD
Dr. Supriyo Choudhury MBBS MD
Dr. Amrita Sil MBBS MBBS, MD
Dr. Chaitali Sengupta MBBS

Post / Designation
Professor & Head
Professor
Associate Professor (till 18.01.2012)
Associate Professor
Associate Professor
Associate Professor
Assistant Professor
Demonstrator
Demonstrator (from 16.052012 to 16.08.2012)
Demonstrator (till 18.01.2012)
Demonstrator (from 14.12.2012)
Demonstrator (from 24.12.2012)

Postgraduate trainees
Dr. Rathindranath Mondal
Dr. Niteeka Maroo MBBS
Dr. Musfikur Rahaman MBBS
Dr. Somnath Maity MBBS
Dr. Samik Hazra MBBS, DCH
Dr. Rajarshi Bhadra MBBS
Dr. Tanmoy Kanti Goswami MBBS
Dr. Nabakumar Maity MBBS, DPM
Dr. Sudipta Kumar Dey MBBS
Dr. Soumya Chatterjee MBBS
Dr. Satabdi Pande MBBS
Dr. Subhro Pandey MBBS
Dr. Richeek Pradhan MBBS
Dr. Sourav Das Chowdhury MBBS
Dr. Ayan Kumar Pati MBBS
Dr. Alak Kumar Das MBBS
Dr. Sohel Rana MBBS, DCH
Dr. Kaushik Mukherjee MBBS
Dr. Sandip Baidya MBBS, DCH

PGT
PGT
PGT
PGT
PGT
PGT
PGT
PGT
PGT
PGT
PGT
PGT
PGT
PGT
PGT
PGT
PGT
PGT
PGT

Research scholars
Dr. Tapas Kumar Sur MSc, PhD
Ms. Nazmun Lyle MSc, PhD
Mr. Avijit Sarkar MSc, PhD
Mr. Alak Manna MSc
Mr. Debanjan Mukhopadhyay MSc
Ms. Sunanda Kundu MSc
Ms. Susmita Ghosh MSc
Ms. Susmita Roy MSc
Ms. Soumita De Mpharm
Mr. Sourav Pakrashi MSc
Mr. Shibabrata Mukherjee MSc
Ms. Suhana Datta MSc
Ms. Sritama De Sarkar MSc
Mr. Uttam Roy

Postdoctoral Research Scholar

Senior Research Fellow (Tenure completed)
Senior Research Fellow
Senior Research Fellow
Senior Research Fellow
Senior Research Fellow
Senior Research Fellow
Senior Research Fellow
Junior Research Fellow
Junior Research Fellow
Junior Research Fellow
Junior Research Fellow
Technical Assistant
Research Assistant

Medical Technologists (Laboratory)

Ms. Supriya Bal
Mr. Subhasish Chatterjee

M.T. (Lab)
M.T. (Lab)

Other non-teaching staff

Mr. Tapan Kumar Ghosh
Mrs. Sabitri Devi Mallick

GDA
Sweeper

2009-12
2009-12
2009-12
2010-13
2010-13
2010-13
2010-13
2010-13
2011-14
2011-14
2011-14
2011-14
2011-14
2012-15
2012-15
2012-15
2012-15
2012-15
2012-15

2. Transfers and postings

Name of officer

Joining / Release date

Dr. Amrita Sil

Transferred from / to
Transferred to Calcutta National Medical College as
Professor
Transferred to College of Medicine & Sagar Dutta
Hospital as Assistant Professor
Posted as Assistant Professor on deputation from
Baharampur Medical College and transferred back
Joined as Demonstrator

Dr. Chaitali Sengupta

Joined as Demonstrator

24.12.2012 (Joining)

Dr. Susmita Chakraborty (Das)

Dr. Supriyo Choudhury
Dr. Tanmoy Biswas

18.01.2012 (Release)
18.01.2012 (Release)
16.05.2012 (Joining)
16.08.2012 (Release)
14.12.2012 (Joining)

3. Faculty news
Prof. Chowdhury Nazrul Islam

Served as Examiner in pharmacology for MBBS examination of The West Bengal University of Health Sciences, MBBS
examination of Manipur University and BDS Examination of Aligarh Muslim University.
Served as Member, Board of Studies for Pharmacology of the West Bengal University of Health Sciences, Kolkata.
Served as invited inspector of Medical Council of India for inspecting undergraduate medical colleges in several places
across India.

Prof. Amal Kanti Das

Served as Dean of Student Affairs, IPGME&R, Kolkata.

Served as Member, Library Committee, Medical Education Committee, Anti-Ragging Committee and Institutional Animal
Ethics Committee of IPGME&R, Kolkata.
Served as Convener, Merit cum Means Scholarship Award Committee of IPGME&R, Kolkata.
Served as Examiner in pharmacology for 2nd MBBS examination of The West Bengal University of Health Sciences at
Kolkata.
Served as Centre-in-Charge for Professional MBBS Examinations at IPGME&R, Kolkata.

Dr. Mitali Chatterjee

Acted as Coordinating Member of the Animal Ethics Committee of IPGME&R, Kolkata and Member, Animal Ethics
Committee of Bethune College, Kolkata
Served as Member, Biosafety Committee of Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB), Kolkata.
Served as Guest Faculty for MS Pharmaceutical Sciences course of National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education &
Research (NIPER), Kolkata.
Served as Examiner in pharmacology for 2nd MBBS examination of The West Bengal University of Health Sciences.
Served as PhD Examiner, University of Calcutta, Jadavpur University, Kolkata and Jawaharlal Nehru University, New
Delhi.
Served as Organizing Secretary, 5th Annual Meeting of The Cytometry Society, Oct 12-13, 2012.
Served as Workshop Co-coordinator and Faculty, 13th Indo-US workshop on Advanced Techniques in Flow Cytometry,
Oct 14-17, 2012.
Invited Speaker, International conference on 100 years of Antimonials, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata
Invited speaker Invasion and Persistence of Infectious Agents Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany, Mar
7-9, 2012.
Invited Speaker, Dept. of Dermatology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany, and Division of Immunology,
Paul Ehrlich Institute, Langen, Germany, in Mar, 2012.

In addition to projects of concerned MD pharmacology students, served as Investigator / Co-Investigator / Supervisor of the
following projects
SN
1
2

Title of the project

Effectiveness of artemisinin and its analogs as potential
antileishmanial agents.
Evaluation of molecular mechanisms responsible for the antiinflammatory activity of allylpyrocatechol.

Duration

Funding agency

2009-12

ICMR, Govt. of India

2009-12

BRNS, DAE, Govt of India

3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Visceral leishmaniasis: Identification and validation of biomarkers for

antimony susceptibility / resistance in clinical isolates of Leishmania
donovani. [as Co-investigator; PI is Prof. R. Madhubala, JNU, New
Delhi]
Targeting of thiol mediated anti-oxidant pathways as a potential
chemotherapeutic modality in Indian leishmaniasis.
Role of IL-10 and T regulatory cells in the immunopathogenesis
of Indian post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL).
Evaluation of molecular markers for monitoring of post kala-azar
dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) in West Bengal.
Study of immunological determinants at the lesional site of
patients with post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis.
Therapeutic effectiveness of allylpyrocatechol (APC) in
experimental models of arthritis.
Age-related blood lymphocyte subsets in healthy Indian children
a multicentric study. [as Co-Investigator; PI is Prof. Arun K Singh,
neonatologist]

2009-12

DBT, Govt. of India

2010-13

DST, Govt. of India

2010-13

CSIR, Govt. of India

2012-15

ICMR, Govt. of India

2011-13

ICMR, Govt. of India

2012-15

DBT, Govt. of India

2010-12

ICMR, Govt. of India

Dr. Suparna Chatterjee

Served as Member of Ethics Committee for Biomedical Research on Human subjects of Institute of Child Health,
Kolkata.
Served as Chief Coordinator, Training and Technical Support of Eastern Regional Resource Centre of the
Pharmacovigilance Program of India (PvPI), Govt of India.
Served as Coordinator of ADR Monitoring centre (AMC) of the Government of India Pharmacovigilance Program of India
(PvPI) at IPGME&R, Kolkata.
Served as Convenor, Pharmacovigilance Committee of IPGME&R, Kolkata.
Served as Examiner in pharmacology for MBBS examination of The West Bengal University of Health Sciences, Utkal
University, Assam Health University, Tripura University and Maharashtra University of Health Sciences
Serving as Guest Faculty for MS Pharmaceutical Sciences course of National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education &
Research (NIPER), Kolkata.
Served as reviewer for Indian Journal of Pharmacology and International Journal of Ayurveda Research.
Served as extramural consultant for various clinical trials, including vaccine trials.
In addition to projects of concerned MD pharmacology students, served as Principal Investigator / Co-Investigator of
following research projects:
R. D. Birla Smarak Kosh Research Project titled MDR1 polymorphism with antitubercular drug induced
hepatotoxicity in eastern Indian population [Ongoing; serving as Principal Investigator].
Tea Board of India sponsored project titled Preclinical Toxicological studies of Black Tea with special emphasis on
iron induced toxicity [Completed in 2012; served as Principal Investigator].
DBT, Government of India Task Force Research project titled Effect of probiotics on carriage of extended
spectrum beta lactamase producing enterobacteriacae in neonatal gut: a randomized controlled trial at a tertiary
care neonatal intensive care unit [Ongoing; serving as Co-Investigator].
Phase IV sponsored trial titled A multicentric, open label, non-comparative, prospective evaluation of misuse
potential (if any), of PROXYVON (combination of propoxyphene napsylate and acetaminophen) in Indian patients
with mild to moderate pain [Completed in 2012, served as Co-Investigator].
Mar 19-20, 2012: Invited speaker at the NIAH sponsored conference Natural plant products as Immunomodulatory
agents at Shillong.
Sep 21, 2012: Invited Speaker at the preconference workshop on Research methodology at 33rd Annual State
Conference of Indian Society of Anesthesiologists West Bengal Chapter (ISAWBCON-2012) at Kolkata.
Nov 29, 2012: Coordinated pharmacovigilance workshop as part of the 3rd Annual Conference of Society for Rational
Pharmacotherapeutics at R. G. Kar Medical College, Kolkata.
Nov 19-21, 2012: Invited Participant at NIH, USA sponsored training program on Advanced Biostatistics at Lucknow.

Dr. Avijit Hazra

Served as Member Secretary, Institutional Ethics Committee, IPGME&R, Kolkata.

Served as Member, Institutional Ethics Committee of National Research Institute of Ayurveda for Drug Development,
Kolkata, Nightingale Hospital, Kolkata and National Allergy Asthma & Bronchitis Institute (NAABI), Kolkata.
Served as Deputy Coordinator of ADR Monitoring centre (AMC) of the Government of India Pharmacovigilance Program
of India (PvPI) at IPGME&R, Kolkata.
Served as Member, Pharmacovigilance Committee and Merit cum Means Scholarship Award Committee of IPGME&R,
Kolkata.

Served as Examiner in pharmacology for MBBS examination of medical / dental streams of The West Bengal University
of Health Sciences, Manipur University and Assam Health University.
Served as External Examiner for PhD examination of Jadavpur University, Kolkata.
Served as Faculty for the Medical Teachers Training Courses organized by the Institute of Health & Family Welfare,
Government of West Bengal.
Served as Guest Faculty for MS Pharmaceutical Sciences course of National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education &
Research (NIPER), Kolkata, MSc Neuroscience course of University of Calcutta and Diploma in Clinical Research course
of Jadavpur University, Kolkata.
Served as Expert Member, Pharmacist Selection Panel of state Public Service Commission, West Bengal.
Served as statistical consultant for various departments of IPGME&R, Kolkata. Also associated with a few projects of
other institutions as statistical advisor.
Served as reviewer for Indian Journal of Pharmacology, Indian Journal of Dermatology, Indian Journal of Medical
Research and Journal of the Indian Medical Association.
Jan 14, 2012: Conducted Quiz on Pharmacology at Annual State Conference of IPS West Bengal Branch.
Feb 17-19, 2012: Chairperson Poster Session at International Symposium on Ethnopharmacology organized by School
of Natural Product Studies, Jadavpur University, at Kolkata.
Aug 9-11, 2012: Invited Participant at NIH, USA sponsored training program on Clinical Trials at Lucknow.
Sep 5, 2012: Invited Speaker at workshop on Research methodology and Biostatistics at ESI Medical College &
Hospital, Joka, Kolkata.
Sep 21, 2012: Invited Speaker at the preconference workshop on Research methodology at 33rd Annual State
Conference of Indian Society of Anesthesiologists West Bengal Chapter (ISAWBCON-2012) at Kolkata.
Nov 29, 2012: Conducted pharmacovigilance workshop as part of the 3rd Annual Conference of Society for Rational
Pharmacotherapeutics at R. G. Kar Medical College, Kolkata.
Dec 5, 2012: Invited Speaker at the preconference workshop on The critical steps for successful research: The
research proposal and scientific writing organized as part of 64th Indian Pharmaceutical Congress at SRM University,
Chennai.

In addition to projects of concerned MD pharmacology students, served as Investigator / Co-Investigator / Supervisor of the
following projects
SN
1
2

Title of the project

Preclinical and safety studies of some proprietary herbal
formulations. [Principal Investigator]
Studies of some marine flora of the Sunderbans. [Principal
Investigator]
Evaluation of impact of antenatal education for primigravid
mothers, through need based Self Instructional Module (SIM), on
fetomaternal health outcome [PhD thesis, registered Oct, 2010,
under The West Bengal University of Health Sciences of Mrs.
Chameli Roy, Principal Nursing Officer, Nursing Training School,
SSKM Hospital, Kolkata] [Co-Supervisor]
Assessment of factors associated with non-compliance regarding
drugs and lifestyle behaviors in post-renal transplant patients [PhD
thesis, registered 2010, under The West Bengal University of
Health Sciences of Mrs. Uma Rani Adhikari, Staff Nurse, West
Bengal Nursing Service] [Co-Supervisor]
To associate the demographic and clinical profile of tuberculosis with
the treatment outcome. [PhD thesis, registered 2011, under
Jadavpur University of Ms. Prova Biswas, Lecturer, Dept. of
Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy, Jalpaiguri] [Co- Supervisor]

Duration
2011-13

Funding agency
M/s Isha Natural & Herbal
Products, Hyderabad

2012-14

DST, Govt. of West Bengal

2010-15

Nil

2010-15

Nil

2011-16

DST, Govt. of India

(applied for)

Dr. Lopamudra (Dhar) Chowdhury

Served as Center-In-Charge Final MBBS Supplementary Examination at IPGME&R.
Served as Examiner in pharmacology for Bachelor of Physiotherapy Examination of the West Bengal University of
Health Sciences.
Served as Paper-setter for paramedical courses conducted by West Bengal State Medical Faculty.
Dr. Tridib Kumar Ray

Served as Centre-in-Charge for Bachelor of Physiotherapy Examination of the West Bengal University of Health
Sciences at IPGME&R Kolkata.

Publication by faculty, students and research scholars

Kundu S, Ghosh P, Datta S, Ghosh A, Chattopadhyay S, Chatterjee M. Oxidative stress as a potential biomarker for
determining disease activity in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Free Radic Res 2012; 46: 1482-9.

Chatterjee S, Das S, Chakraborty P, Manna A, Chatterjee M, Choudhuri SK. Myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs)
can induce the generation of Th17 response from nave CD4(+) T cells. Immunobiology. 2012; pii: S01712985(12)00477-9.

Zahir AA, Rahuman AA, Pakrashi S, Ghosh D, Bagavan A, Kamaraj C, Elango G, Chatterjee M. Evaluation of
antileishmanial activity of South Indian medicinal plants against Leishmania donovani. Exp Parasitol. 2012; 132: 180-4.

Mukhopadhyay D, Das NK, Sarkar SD, Manna A, Ganguly DN, Barbhuiya JN, Maitra AK, Hazra A, Chatterjee M.
Evaluation of serological markers to monitor the disease status of Indian post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis. Trans R
Soc Trop Med Hyg 2012;106: 668-76.

Ghosh S, Banerjee P, Sarkar A, Datta S, Chatterjee M. Co-infection of Leptomonas seymouri with Leishmania donovani
in Indian Leishmaniasis. J Clin Microbiol. 2012; 50: 2774-8.

Sarkar D, Kundu S, De S, Hariharan C, Saha P, Manna A, Chattopadhyay S, Chatterjee M. The antioxidant activity of
allylpyrocatechol is mediated via decreased generation of free radicals along with escalation of anti-oxidant
mechanisms. Phytother Res. 2012 doi: 10.1002/ptr.4720. [Epub ahead of print].

Ghosh RD, Chakraborty P, Banerjee K, Adhikary A, Sarkar A, Chatterjee M, Das T, Choudhuri SK. The molecular
interaction of a copper chelate with human P-glycoprotein. Mol Cell Biochem. 2012; 364: 309-20.

Mukhopadhyay D, Saha P, Chatterjee M. Targets for immunochemotherapy in leishmaniasis. Expert Rev Anti Infect
Ther 2012; 10: 261-4.

Chakraborty P, Chatterjee S, Ganguly A, Saha P, Adhikary A, Das T, Chatterjee M, Choudhuri SK. Reprogramming of
TAM toward pro-immunogenic type through regulation of MAP kinases using a redox-active copper chelate. J Leukoc
Biol 2012; 91: 609-19.

Chattopadhyay C, Chakrabarti N, Chatterjee M, Mukherjee S, Sarkar K, Chaudhuri AR. Black tea ( Camellia sinensis)
decoction shows immunomodulatory properties on an experimental animal model and in human peripheral
mononuclear cells. Pharmacognosy Res. 2012; 4: 15-21.

Basu S, Ganguly A, Chakraborty P, Sen R, Banerjee K, Chatterjee M, Efferth T, Choudhuri SK. Targeting the
mitochondrial pathway to induce apoptosis/necrosis through ROS by a newly developed Schiff's base to overcome MDR
in cancer. Biochimie 2012; 94: 166-83.

Manna A, Saha P, Sarkar A, Mukhopadhyay D, Bauri AK, Kumar D, Das P, Chattopadhyay S, Chatterjee M.
Malabaricone-A induces apoptosis in U937 cells via increased generation of reactive oxygen species. PLoS One 2012; 7:
e36938.

Sarkar A, Ghosh S, Pakrashi S, Roy D, Sen S, Chatterjee M. Leishmania strains causing self healing Cutaneous
leishmaniasis have greater susceptibility towards oxidative stress. Free Radic Res 2012; 46: 665-73.

Ganguly A, Chakraborty P, Banerjee K, Chatterjee S, Basu S, Sarkar A, Chatterjee M, Choudhuri SK. Iron N-(2-hydroxy
acetophenone) glycinate (FeNG), a non-toxic glutathione depletor circumvents doxorubicin resistance in Ehrlich ascites
carcinoma cells in vivo. Biometals 2012; 25: 149-63.

Biswas A, Chatterjee S, Chowdhury R, Sen S, Sarkar D, Chatterjee M, Das J. Antidiabetic effect of seeds of Strychnos
Potatorum Linn in a streptozotocin induced model of diabetes. Acta Pol Pharm. 2012; 69: 939-43.

Vishwanathan R, Singh AK, Basu S, Chatterjee S, Sardar S, Isaacs D. Multidrug resistant gram negative bacilli causing
early neonatal sepsis in India. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2012 ;97: F182-187.

Maroo N, Choudhury S, Sen S, Chatterjee S. Oral doxycycline with topical tacrolimus for treatment of stasis dermatitis
due to chronic venous insufficiency: a pilot study. Indian J Pharmacol 2012; 44: 111-3.

Viswanathan R, Singh AK, Basu S, Chatterjee S, Roy S, Isaacs D. Multidrug resistant, non-fermenting gram negative
bacilli- in neonatal sepsis in Kolkata, India: a 4 year study. Trop Pediatr [accepted].

Chatterjee S, Das T, Kar P, Mitra M, et al. Randomized placebo-controlled double blind multicentric trial on efficacy and
safety of Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 and Bifidobacterium BB-12 for prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
J Assoc Physicians India [accepted].

Nag F, De A, Hazra A, Chatterjee G, Ghosh A, Surana TV. Chronic venous ulceration of leg associated with peripheral
arterial disease: an underappreciated entity in developing country. Int Wound J 2012 Nov 22 [Epub ahead of print].

Sinha S, Ray M, Mukherjee M, Chatterjee S, Hazra A, Das N. The effect of dopamine pre-treatment on intubating
conditions and haemodynamics during rapid tracheal intubation using propofol and rocuronium. Anaesth Pain Intensive
Care 2012; 16: 152-6.

Saha A, Das NK, Hazra A, Gharami RC, Chowdhury SN, Datta PK. Cutaneous adverse drug reaction profile in a tertiary
care out-patient setting in Eastern India. Indian J Pharmacol 2012; 44: 792-7.

Laha B, Guha R, Hazra A. Multiple cutaneous neutropenic ulcers associated with azathioprine: a case report. Indian J
Pharmacol 2012; 44: 646-8.

Varshney H, Varshney H, Dutta SK, Hazra A. Comparison of sensory attributes and immediate efficacy of intranasal
ciclesonide and fluticasone propionate in allergic rhinitis: a randomized controlled trial. Indian J Pharmacol 2012; 44:
550-4.

Mondal R, Sarkar S, Nandi M, Hazra A, Pal P, Banerjee I, Pan P, Giri P. Overlap syndrome: a child cohort. Indian J
Pediatr 2012 Jul 13. [Epub ahead of print]

Das S, Paul N, Hazra A, Ghosal M, Ray BK, Banerjee TK, Burman P, Das SK. Cognitive dysfunction in stroke survivors: a
community-based prospective study from Kolkata, India. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2012 Jun 19. [Epub ahead of print]

Mondal R, Sarkar S, Nandi M, Hazra A. Comparative analysis between objective structured clinical examination (OSCE)
and conventional examination) as a formative evaluation tool in pediatrics in semester examination for final MBBS
students. Kathmandu Univ Med J 2012; 37(1): 62-5.

Seal SL, Ghosh D, Kamilya G, Mukherji J, Hazra A, Garai P. Does route of delivery affect the maternal and perinatal
outcome in eclampsia cases? A randomized controlled pilot study. Am J Obs Gyn 2012; 206:484, e1-7. [Epub 2012 Apr
6]

Chowdhury IH, Sen A, Bahar B, Hazra A, Chakraborty U, Choudhuri S, Goswami A, Pal NK, Bhattacharya B. A molecular
approach to identification and profiling of first-line-drug-resistant mycobacteria from sputum of pulmonary tuberculosis
patients. J Clin Microbiol 2012; 50: 2082-4. [Epub 2012 Mar 29]

Kamilya G, Seal SL, Mukherji J, Roy H, Bhattacharyya SK, Hazra A, A randomized controlled trial comparing two
different antibiotic regimens for prophylaxis at cesarean section. J Obstet Gynecol India 2012; 62: 35-8.

Sinha S, Mukherjee M, Chatterjee S, Vijay MK, Hazra A, Ray M. Comparative study of analgesic efficacy of ropivacaine
with ropivacaine plus dexmedetomidine for paravertebral block in unilateral renal surgery. Anaesth Pain Intensive Care
2012; 16: 38-42.

Sahoo T, Sendasgupta C, Goswami A, Hazra A. Reduction in spinal-induced hypotension with ondansetron in

parturients undergoing caesarean section: A double-blind randomised, placebo-controlled study. Int J Obstet Anesth
2012; 21: 24-8.

Sil A, Tripathi SK, Chaudhuri A, Das NK, Hazra A, Bagchi C, Islam CN. Olopatadine versus levocetirizine in chronic
urticaria: an observer-blind, randomized, controlled trial of effectiveness and safety. J Dermatolog Treat 2012 Nov 19
[Epub ahead of print].

Sil A, Das K, Das NK, Chakraborty D, Mazumdar G, Tripathi SK. Use of anti-epileptic drugs in a tertiary care hospital of
Eastern India with emphasis on epilepsy due to neurocysticercosis. Indian J Pharmacol 2012; 44: 106-10.

Banerjee S, Biswas N, Das NK, Sil A, Ghosh P, Raja AHH, Dasgupta S, Datta PK, Bhattacharya B. Diagnosing leprosy:
revisiting the role of slit skin smear with critical analysis of applicability of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as
diagnostic tool, Int J Dermatol 2011; 50: 1522-7.

Sil A, Das N K, Ghosh P, Datta P K, Islam CN, Tripathi S K. A study to evaluate the price control of antifungal medicines
and its practical applicability. Indian J Pharmacol 2012; 44: 704-9.

4. Regular academic activities

The department continued its usual PG teaching program comprising didactic lectures, seminars, journal clubs and practical
demonstrations.
Full utilization was made of the revamped departmental infrastructure which now conforms fully to Medical Council of India
specifications to run both Undergraduate (MBBS; capacity 100 per year) and Postgraduate (MD; capacity 6 per year)
teaching programs. The Museum and Pharmacy Laboratory (capacity 50 students) were utilized for teaching MBBS
students. The Experimental Pharmacology (capacity 50 students) laboratory was utilized by PG students and research
scholars. The Undergraduate teaching program (both theory and practicals) has been running smoothly. Currently two
batches of students third and fifth are being catered to.
The department also undertook regular classes for BSc Nursing students of IPGME&R School of Nursing, Bachelor of
Physiotherapy students of IPGME&R and students of various paramedical diploma courses posted in IPGME&R. The
postgraduate medical students shared a large part of the teaching responsibility of these students.
5. Research projects and grants

The department continued utilization of further grant of Rs. 83 lakh under the infrastructure development scheme (FIST) of
the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. Additional equipment have been procured and the aging
computer network in the department has been revamped.
Other research projects, as mentioned earlier, are ongoing in the department, with postgraduate students or research
scholars as the major workers and the faculty in supervisory position.

6. Theses publication, student and research scholar information

The following theses were successfully defended at the MD Pharmacology examination of the West Bengal University
of Health Sciences, in April, 2012, leading to award of MD degree.
Dr. Musfikur Rahaman
Dr. Niteeka Maroo
Dr. Rathindranath
Mondal

Evaluation of antileishmanial activity of miltefosine in combination with artemisinin.

Evaluation of effectiveness and safety of a polyherbal sedative-hypnotic formulation
NSF-3 in primary insomnia in comparison to zolpidem: A randomized controlled trial.
A clinical trial of add-on carvedilol in rheumatic carditis patient presenting with heart failure.

Drs. Sourav Das Chowdhury, Ayan Kumar Pati, Alak Kumar Das, Sohel Rana, Kaushik Mukherjee and Sandip
Baidya (service PGT) joined the department as new MD PGTs.
Dr. Tapas Kumar Sur, PhD continued working in the department, as an honorary post-doctoral fellow, on safety
evaluation of certain proprietary polyherbal formulations and screening of pharmacological activity of selected marine flora
of the Sunderbans.
Ms. Nazmun Lyle MSc (joined 2005) was awarded PhD by University of Calcutta for her work on Antistress effect of an
Indian medicinal plant Nardostachys jatamansi. She subsequently rejoined the department as Senior Research Fellow
(extended) for a CSIR-supported project which was duly completed.
Other research scholars are pursuing projects as stated below:
SN

Name

Fellowship and PhD guide

ICMR, Govt. of India,
Dr. Mitali Chatterjee
ICMR, Govt. of India,
Dr. Mitali Chatterjee
ICMR-NET, Govt. of India
Dr. Mitali Chatterjee
Dr. Mitali Chatterjee,
DBR, Govt. of India
Dr. Mitali Chatterjee,
ICMR, Govt. of India
DST, Govt. of India
Dr. Mitali Chatterjee
Dr. Mitali Chatterjee,
CSIR-NET
INSPIRE Fellowship (DST,
Govt. of India)
Dr. Mitali Chatterjee

Alak Manna

Avijit Sarkar

Debanjan
Mukhopadhyay

Soumita De

Sunanda Kundu

Susmita Ghosh

Susmita Roy

Shibabrata
Mukherjee

Suhana Dutta

CSIR, Govt. of India

Dr. Mitali Chatterjee

10

Sritama De Sarkar

ICMR, Govt. of India

Title of research
Anti-cancer potential of plant derived compounds with
pro-oxidant activity.
Study of antioxidant pathway(s) in leishmaniasis. [PhD
awarded in 2012 by University of Calcutta]
Evaluation of immunoclinical determinants in Indian
post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis.
Therapeutic effectiveness of allylpyrocatechol (APC) in
experimental models of arthritis.
Effectiveness of allylpyrocatechol in inflammation
associated disorders.
Development of biomarkers in Indian leishmaniasis.
Evaluation of monocyte functions in Indian Visceral
Leishmaniasis
Study of immunodeterminants at the lesional site of
patients with post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis.
Role of IL 10 and T-regulatory cells in the
immunopathogenesis of Indian post kalaazar dermal
leishmaniasis (PKDL).
Age related blood lymphocyte subset in healthy Indian
children-A Multicentric study

7. Other information Programs / Conferences / Workshops

Students and research scholars presented oral papers / posters at various conferences / symposia as follows:

SN
1

Name
Dr. Niteeka Maroo

Participated in

Poster. International Symposium on

Dr. Satabdi Pande

Dr. Sourav Das

Chowdhury
Alak Manna

Dr. Avijit Sarkar

Debanjan
Mukhopadhyay

Shibabrata
Mukherjee

Soumita De

Sritama De Sarkar

10

Suhana Dutta

11

Sunanda Kundu

12

Susmita Roy

Ethnopharmacology organized by School of Natural

Product Studies, Jadavpur University at Kolkata.
Poster. 3rd Annual Conference of Society for Rational
Pharmacotherapeutics. Kolkata. Nov 3-4, 2012.
Poster. 3rd Annual Conference of Society for Rational
Pharmacotherapeutics. Kolkata. Nov 3-4, 2012.
Poster. International Congress on Natural Anticancer
Drugs (NAD), Palacky University, Olomouc , Czech
Republic, Jun 30-Jul 4, 2012.
Poster. 5th Annual meeting of The Cytometry Society,
India, Kolkata, Oct 12-13, 2012.
13th Indo-US cytometry workshop, Kolkata, Oct 1417, 2012.
13th Indo-US cytometry workshop, Kolkata, Oct 1417, 2012
5th Winter School of Immunology, Jodhpur, Jan 9-14,
2012.
Oral paper. British Society of Parasitology Meet,
Glasgow, Scotland, UK, Apr 2-5, 2012.
Poster: 5th Annual meeting of The Cytometry Society,
India, Kolkata, Oct 12-13, 2012.
13th Indo-US cytometry workshop, Kolkata, Oct 1417, 2012.
Oral paper. 39th Annual Conference of Indian
Immunology Society, BHU, Varanasi, Nov 9-11, 2012.
Poster. 100 years of antimonials meeting, Kolkata,
Nov 23-25, 2012.
Oral paper. 39th Annual Conference of Indian
Immunology Society, BHU, Varanasi, Nov 9-11, 2012.
Invasion and Persistence of Infectious Agents
Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany. Mar
7-9, 2012.
Oral Paper. 5th Annual meeting of The Cytometry
Society, India, Kolkata, Oct 12-13, 2012.
Oral paper. 21st Annual State conference, Indian
Pharmacological Society
Poster. 39th Annual Conference of Indian
Immunology Society, BHU, Varanasi, Nov 9-11, 2012.
5th Annual meeting of The Cytometry Society, India,
Kolkata, Oct 12-13, 2012.
39th Annual Conference of Indian Immunology
Society, BHU, Varanasi, Nov 9-11, 2012.
Oral paper. 5th Annual meeting of The Cytometry
Society, India, Kolkata, Oct 12-13, 2012.
Poster. 39th Annual Conference of Indian
Immunology Society, BHU, Varanasi, Nov 9-11, 2012.
Poster. 100 years of antimonials meeting, Kolkata,
Nov 23-25, 2012.

Awards and Honors

Won Best Poster award.

Travel Award from DST and

Centre for International Cooperation in Science, Govt. of
India. Won Best Student Poster
Award.
Faculty Infectious Disease
Monitoring session.
Faculty
Travel award from DST and
Centre for International Cooperation in Science, Govt. of
India, Travel award, British
Society of Parasitology.
Faculty
Won Dr. G. P. Talwar Young
Scientist Award, Indian
Immunological Society.
Won 1st Prize, Oral Presentation
on Parasitic Immunology

3rd Prize, Oral Presentation.

Won 1st prize,

Immunomodulation session.

Won 1st prize, Infectious

Immunology session.

Dr. Sudipta Kumar Dey, MD PGT, was awarded 3rd Prize in an essay completion on Palliative care in India challenges and
the way ahead at 19th International Conference of Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPICON-2012) held in
Kolkata between Feb 10-12, 2012.
Guest lecture on Biological therapeutics was delivered in the department by Dr. Shibaprasad Roychowdhury, Dept. of
Dermatology, University of California School of Medicine at Davies, California USA on 03.02.2012. An invited
presentation on Career opportunities in pharmaceutical industry was delivered by former student Dr. Ballari
Brahmachari of Piramal Life Sciences on 11.12.2012. Other notable visitors to the department in 2012 were:

Dr Karen Siefert, London School of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene, London, UK

Prof. Paul Kaye, York Medical School, York, UK

Dr. Kordula Katz-Neu, Dept. of Dermatology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany

Dr. Reinhard Schwarz-Albiez, Geman Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany

Faculty members and students participated in several CMEs organized by Indian Pharmacological Society (IPS) West Bengal
state branch at various Kolkata-based medical colleges from time to time and attended the Annual State Conference of IPS
West Bengal Branch on 14.01.2012 as well as 3rd Annual Conference of Society for Rational Pharmacotherapeutics, Kolkata
between Nov 29-30, 2012. Dr. Amrita Sil and Dr. Avijit Hazra also attended the Eastern Regional Conference of Indian
Pharmacological Society at Guwahati between Nov 3-4, 2012 as paper presenter and invited speaker.