Chennai: AstraZeneca India Pvt Ltd (AZIPL), the Global Capability Centre (GCC) of AstraZeneca, joined hands with SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, to develop a curriculum on Clinical Research & Development as part of its three-year MoU with the University. The tie-up aims to strengthen the industry-academia collaboration through research and development activities, foster young talent in the country, and equip and empower them for the real world. As part of this collaboration, SASTRA University is set to launch a six-month elective course for Clinical Research and Development students.
AstraZeneca’s India Clinical Data and Insights team led in building a prospective programme to bridge the skill gap and improve employment opportunities for students by incorporating industry-relevant curriculum as a part of the programme. The curriculum introduces various clinical research and development aspects, covering biostatistics, data management, information technology, computer science, and medical informatics in developing drugs, vaccines, or medical devices. The programme is a six-month elective course for students to benefit and build their knowledge in this stream and provide a platform for students into the world of clinical research.
Highlighting the need for the programme, Siva Padmanabhan, Managing Director, AstraZeneca India Private Limited (AZIPL) and Head of Global Innovation & Technology Centre, Chennai, said, “At AstraZeneca, we believe in the power of collaboration between industry and academia. This curriculum aims to equip students with practical skills and knowledge by synergising real-world expertise with cutting-edge research. The partnership with SASTRA empowers the next generation of professionals and bridges the gap between theory and practice. Together we are shaping a workforce that can thrive in today’s rapidly evolving landscape, driving innovation and transforming industries.”
Ram Mudaliar, Senior Director (India CDI Lead), Clinical Data & Insights (CDI) at AstraZeneca, said, “Healthcare environment is becoming increasingly complex, and to meet the changing demands of the clinical trial environment, we are always finding ways to innovate to improve outcomes by leveraging data, digital and AI. Such cohesive ways of working together will pave the way for a more efficient and transformative era in clinical trials. At AZ, we constantly strive towards developing better capabilities and building a strong leadership pipeline and we believe this collaboration will benefit both the student community and the clinical research ecosystem at large.
Anuradha Kumar, Head HR, Global Innovation & Technology Centre, Chennai, and R&D Bangalore sites, said, “Our partnership with Sastra to launch a course is the 1st of its kind in our organisation. We are excited about the collaboration and confident that this course would provide students with a deeper and more practical exposure.”
Prof. S. Vaidhyasubramaniam, Vice Chancellor, SASTRA Deemed University, said, “This MoU symbolises the coherent synergy between AstraZeneca and SASTRA to promote innovation & technology leadership through research & capability building. We are delighted to partner with AstraZeneca in empowering the students with a research-backed skills programme. While theoretical knowledge is crucial in developing students’ expertise, equipping them with a deeper understanding and connection to the industry is equally important. Collaborating with AstraZeneca will ensure that students receive first-hand expertise in a complex industry like Science and Pharma. This initiative will help the next gen to scale themselves to the changing needs of the pharma world.”
Upon successful completion of the course, students will acquire a comprehensive understanding of the ethical principles essential in the realm of clinical research. They will also gain the ability to articulate the application of clinical sciences in drug discovery, as well as classify different clinical drug applications and differentiate clinical trials for drugs, vaccines, and medical devices. Moreover, students will get proficient in articulating strategies for managing, integrating, reviewing, validating, and visualising clinical data.
They will be taught about various regulatory authorities and the associated procedures governing clinical research. This course will also develop expertise in performing statistical calculations required for conducting clinical trials and will be able to elucidate the latest trends using real-life case studies, enabling them to stay abreast of emerging developments in the field.
About AstraZeneca India Private Limited
AstraZeneca India Pvt. Ltd. (AZIPL) is the global capability centre for AstraZeneca, with offices in Chennai and Bengaluru. The entity has nearly 3000 employees catering to services including IT services, Global Business Services (GBS) and R&D capabilities, among others. The Global Innovation & Technology Centre (GITC) in Chennai and R&D Bangalore sites together play a key role in innovation and transformation projects enabling and empowering AstraZeneca’s core business processes – from Discovery, Development, Production, Launches to Supply all the way through the value chain. www.astrazeneca.com/india.
AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases across our main disease areas: Oncology; BioPharmaceuticals (including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology); and Rare Diseases. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries, and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide.
About SASTRA Deemed University
SASTRA is a renowned University offering various undergraduate and graduate programmes besides Ph.D. in Engineering, Science, Law, Management and Arts with campuses in Thanjavur, Kumbakonam & Chennai. SASTRA has been re-accredited by the National Assessment & Accreditation Council (NAAC) with the highest grade, “A++” (CGPA: 3.76 / 4.00). SASTRA is also recognised as a Category 1 University as per the University Grants Commission (UGC) Graded Autonomy Regulations, 2018. We are also ranked amongst the top universities by the Government of India through the National Institute Ranking Framework and other global ranking agencies like Times Higher Education World & Asia, QS BRICS, QS Asia & India, Times Higher Education Emerging Economies University Rankings, etc. The Institution of Engineering & Technology, UK, has accredited 9 engineering programmes of SASTRA for a record duration of 9 years.
SASTRA is recognised as a Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation by the Government of India. It is currently engaged in research for various agencies like the Department of Science & Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Defence Research & Development Organisation, Indian Council for Medical Research, etc.
