Mohali- The Central Animal Facility at National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), S.A.S. Nagar (Mohali), is hosting a National Workshop entitled “Laboratory Animal in Pharmaceutical Research: Ethics, Techniques and Regulations” from August 21 to 23, 2025. The workshop is sponsored by Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) and the Committee for Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CCSEA).  
This three-day workshop is having participants from across India, including researchers, academicians, industry professionals and students in pharmaceutical and biomedical research. Distinguished speakers from academia, regulatory bodies and industry will share expertise on ethical practices, technical procedures, and regulatory requirements in laboratory animal research. The objective of the workshop is to promote responsible research and foster collaboration among academia, industry, and regulatory bodies.
Padma Shri, Prof. (Dr.) Digamber Behera, Director, Pulmonology, Fortis Hospital, Mohali was the Chief guest for the inaugural session. In his address, he congratulated all for organizing the workshop. He said that for scientific advancement the animal usage is justified. He further mentioned that the usage of animals for science is century old. 
He also told that there are three ‘Rs’ for animal usage, namely Replacement of animal usage with other models, Reduction in the number of animals and Refinement of the procedure to minimize pain and shift to non-invasive procedures and now fourth ‘R’ is there for Rehabilitation of the animals. He emphasized that for animal usage a balance has to be maintained.
Prof. GB Jena, Chairman, Organizing Committee welcomed the participants in this unique Event to learn and imbibe. In his welcome address, he mentioned that the animals can’t speak and we have to speak for them. He told for a single new drug we need 2.5 billion US dollars and therefore, there should be an integrated approach in animal research.
It was followed by the address by Prof. KB Tikoo, Dean, NIPER-SAS Nagar. He addressed the participants and said that the participants are in the age where what they are learning today will change tomorrow as the scene in regulatory toxicology is changing very fast and they have to keep pace with it.
It was followed by the address by Prof. Dulal Panda, Director NIPER SAS Nagar. In his address he said that as an academic institute we must generate trained manpower. He further mentioned that the animals have real importance in biomedical research. He said we should use statistical methods to reduce the number of animals to draw meaningful conclusion. He further told we should also focus on the use of alternate methods of testing rather than living animals.
It was followed by the address by Prof. SS Sharma, Chairman, Institutional Animals Ethics Committee (IAEC). In his address, he informed that the department of Pharmacology and Toxicology as graduated >500 students who are at very important positions in USFDA, industries and academic institutions. He further told that the Dept of Pharmacology and Toxicology also focuses on non-animal pharmacology.
The vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. Ravi Kumar, Convenor, Organizing Committee. The inaugural function was concluded successfully.