Mumbai, April 30: In a bold push to combat India’s surging ophthalmic disorders, Vivekanand Education Society’s College of Pharmacy (VESCOP), ENTOD Pharmaceuticals, and APTI-MSB hosted Vision 360, a landmark one-day National Symposium on “Translating Ophthalmic Innovations from Bench to Bedside” on Friday. Held at VES College of Pharmacy, Mumbai, the event drew top pharmacy experts, ophthalmologists, industry leaders, regulators, students and research scholars, to ignite collaborations turning lab discoveries into life-changing treatments through keynote lectures, expert talks, e-poster presentations, and interdisciplinary discussions.
India grapples with a silent eye health epidemic, with 75% of blindness in the country considered preventable or curable, underscoring the urgent need for timely diagnosis, better awareness, and stronger translational research. Glaucoma alone affects over 12 million people in India, and nearly 90% of cases remain undiagnosed, while diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and ocular infections affect millions more, placing additional strain on healthcare systems. While recent advances in pharmaceutical sciences, biotechnology, and clinical research have accelerated the development of innovative ophthalmic therapies, there remains a critical need to bridge the gap between laboratory research and clinical application. Vision 360 tackled this head-on, showcasing pharma-biotech advances and strategies to fast-track innovations from pre-clinical trials to patient care by providing a platform to share knowledge, discuss translational approaches and explore collaborative opportunities in ophthalmic research and development.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Nikkhil K Masurkar, CEO, ENTOD Pharmaceuticals, said:
“With growing advancements in ophthalmic research, it is essential to strengthen the translation of innovation from bench to bedside. Vision 360 serves as an important platform to bring together academia, clinicians, and industry to share knowledge, discuss developments, and encourage collaboration in ophthalmic therapeutics. Importantly, it also creates a valuable opportunity for students to gain direct exposure to real-world applications, emerging technologies, and industry expectations. As the demand for skilled professionals in ophthalmology and pharmaceutical research continues to rise, such platforms help students build relevant expertise, enhance employability, and make informed career choices in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.”
Prof. Supriya Shidhaye, Principal, VESCOP added:
“As an institution committed to research, innovation, and academic excellence, VESCOP aims to foster multidisciplinary learning and meaningful engagement among students, researchers, and professionals. Vision 360 reflects our continued efforts to promote knowledge exchange, translational research, and collaboration across the pharmaceutical and healthcare ecosystem.”
The symposium featured seminars and lectures by eminent speakers, including Mr. Nikkhil K Masurkar, CEO, Entod Pharmaceuticals, Prof. Thakur Raghu Raj Singh (Queen’s University, Belfast), Dr. Kasturi Bhadsavle (Founder, EyeVet), Dr. Sanjay Tamoli (Founder, TIMER), and Dr. Sadhana Sathaye (Professor, ICT). Key focus areas included recent innovations in ophthalmic research, translational approaches, regulatory, clinical, and market perspectives in ophthalmic product development, and the use of emerging experimental models such as zebrafish and Drosophila.
The event also hosted a research-based e-poster presentation competition for students on recent ophthalmic developments and innovations, conducted in online mode, encouraging participation and showcasing research within a defined presentation format. The symposium aimed to enhance understanding of translational ophthalmic research, strengthen collaborations between academia, healthcare professionals, and the pharmaceutical and biomedical industry, and provide exposure to emerging trends, technologies, and therapeutic strategies in ophthalmology and ocular drug delivery.
