Professor O P Katare, Dean, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, has been chosen for the prestigious OPPI scientist for the year 2011. The Organization of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI), Mumbai has instituted ‘Scientist Awards’ as a part of its Public Private Partnership initiative to recognize and honour outstanding Indian scientists working in the area of healthcare. The award carries a cash prize of rupees one lakh, citation and a trophy.Professor Katare has made excellent contribution towards human healthcare by developing novel phospholipid-based drug delivery systems for the treatment of difficult-to-treat immune-mediated skin ailments like psoriasis and eczema.
Besides publishing more than 5 patents, 60 publications in peer-reviewed journals and more than 40 invited talks at national and international conferences, he has been instrumental in the successful transfer of two novel drug delivery technologies to pharma-industry. The said nanostructured liposomal products have been proved to be much more effective and patient-compliant than the existing therapeutic strategies. His work presents a ‘role model’ example of industry-institute collaboration, leading from conceptualization to commercialization for societal benefits. Earlier too, he has been bestowed upon with the coveted DBT National Award by then President of India in 2007.