Dr. Prashant S. Kharkar,FICS FMASc is a distinguished drug discovery professional with over 20 years of experience in Medicinal Chemistry and Computer-aided Molecular Design (CAMD). Currently serving as a Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and the Associate Dean of Academic Programmes at the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) in Mumbai, Dr. Kharkar also coordinates the ICT-NICE Venture Incubator and Foundation. His extensive research career has led to the successful management of discovery projects targeting metabolic disorders, cancer, pain, inflammation, and infections. Notably, he has delivered two Investigational New Drug (IND) candidates currently in Phase I trials.

Dr. Kharkar's academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry (2003) and an M. Pharm. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry (2000) from the University of Mumbai, Institute of Chemical Technology. He also holds a B. Pharm. degree from the University of Pune (1998). His expertise is further validated by certifications as a SAS Certified Base Programmer for SAS 9, a SAS Certified Predictive Modeler using SAS Enterprise Miner 13, and a SAS Certified Visual Business Analyst using SAS Visual Analytics.

Throughout his career, Dr. Kharkar has held prestigious positions, including Senior Research Scientist at Global Discovery Nycomed: a Takeda Company, and Research Scientist at Piramal Life Sciences Ltd. His postdoctoral fellowship at Wayne State University, Detroit, honed his skills under the guidance of Dr. Aloke K. Dutta. His contributions to the field have been recognized with numerous awards, including being named a Fellow of the Maharashtra Academy of Sciences (FMASc) in 2022 and a Life Fellow of the Indian Chemical Society (FICS) in 2021. He has also received multiple Best Research Output awards and DST Foreign Travel Grants.

Dr. Kharkar's research portfolio is robust, with numerous peer-reviewed publications that have significantly impacted medicinal chemistry and drug discovery. His work encompasses innovative approaches to cancer treatment, anti-infective drug development, and computer- aided drug design. In addition to his research, he has been actively involved in consultancy projects, focusing on the development of novel anticancer agents and cancer stem cell inhibitors, collaborating with industry leaders such as Godavari Biorefineries Ltd. and Unilever Industries Pvt. Ltd.

Holding nine patents and numerous applications in various stages, Dr. Kharkar's contributions to the field of anticancer compounds and therapeutic agents for various diseases are noteworthy. His professional skills include expertise in molecular modeling and cheminformatics software, a strong background in medicinal chemistry, and extensive experience in project management and innovation in drug discovery.

Dr. Kharkar can be contacted at the Institute of Chemical Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nathalal Parekh Marg, Matunga (East), Mumbai – 400 019, India. He can be reached via cell at +91-9819467123 or through email at ps.kharkar@ictmumbai.edu.in, or prof.psk@faculty.ictmumbai.edu.in/, or pkharkar1@gmail.com.