The Natoli-BCP lab (Natoli-BCP Institute for Research and Industrial Pharmacy Training), is a collaborative project between Bombay College of Pharmacy (BCP), a pioneering institute for pharmaceutical education and training and one of the oldest Pharmacy colleges in India, and Natoli Group (Natoli Engineering and Natoli Scientific) of St. Charles, MO, USA, a global leader in tablet compression. The Natoli-BCP Lab is an ambitious project, and BCP is the first academic institution in South Asia to have such a facility. The project was initiated by Dr Dale Natoli, President & CEO of Natoli Engineering, and led by Mr. Yasar Shaikh, Director-International Business, Natoli Engineering.

This facility was inaugurated on the Foundation Day of BCP, 28th May 2024. by two eminent industry professionals – Mrs. Pratibha Pilgaonkar (Chief Guest), Co-founder, Managing Director, Board of Directors of Rubicon Research Pvt. Ltd. Mumbai and Dr. Pavan Bhat (Guest of Honor), Director & Executive – VP of NATCO Pharma, Telangana.

The event was graced by several dignitaries from the pharmaceutical and allied industries, including 3F Industries Ltd, ACG, Arihant Innochem Pvt. Ltd., Abbott, BASF, DIOSNA Process Solutions Pvt. Ltd., MIES Turnkey Projects Solutions Pvt. Ltd., and Pharma Machines and Technology. Their presence underscored the industry’s interest and support for the Natoli-BCP lab. The event also saw the participation of BCP alumni, academicians from pharmacy colleges in Mumbai, and members of the BCP governing body.

The inaugural ceremony began with a welcome address by Dr Alka Mukne (HOD of Pharmacognosy dept.), highlighting the foundation of BCP in 1957, followed by felicitation of Mrs. Pilgaonkar and Dr. Pavan Bhat. Dr. Dale Natoli and Mr. Yasar Shaikh addressed the audience through video messages highlighting the collaboration’s objectives, including research and education. They acknowledged with thanks the contributions of BCP management, faculty and the administration team. Mr. Vineel P and Ms. Jigna Patel, representatives of Natoli Engineering in India graced the occasion.

Mr. Samir Vasavada, Chief Operations Officer, and Dr. Ram Govindarajan, Principal Scientist, of Natoli-BCP lab, briefed the audience on the lab’s important features and services. Dr. Krishna Iyer, Principal of BCP, addressed the audience and conveyed his best wishes to the team.

Mrs. Pilgaonkar and Dr Bhat addressed the audience, emphasized the importance of such a facility to the pharmaceutical industry, and conveyed their best wishes to the lab. Dr Bhat, an alumnus of BCP, expressed his appreciation for establishing a state-of-the-art industrial research facility at BCP, which can benefit students and help bridge the academia-industry gap. Mrs. Pilgaonkar emphasized the benefits of the lab’s location in a premier institute like BCP, where the academic environment and research ecosystem would foster creativity and industry-academia collaborations. The vote of thanks was delivered by Dr Mala Menon, Adjunct Professor Bombay College of Pharmacy

Following the formal function, the guests proceeded to the facility for the Inaugural Ceremony. This included a ribbon-cutting ceremony by Mrs. Pilgaonkar and Dr. Bhat, followed by a comprehensive tour of the facility. The tour featured in-depth technical discussions between the attendees and key representatives from the Natoli-BCP lab and MIES Turnkey Projects Solutions Pvt. Ltd. The attendees were also provided with a detailed brochure describing the lab’s facilities and services.

The event was supported by the Bombay College of Pharmacy’s management and administrative team, Dr Ujwala Shinde (HOD, Pharmaceutics dept), pharmaceutics faculty, and pharmaceutics graduate student volunteers.