Department of Pharmacology at Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences has top-drawer facilities for research in cancer, metabolic disorders, diabetes, inflammatory diseases, chemoprevention, tissue repair, and neuropharmacology. Faculty members, research scholars, and postgraduate students are actively involved in research projects. BPharm students in their fourth year are also nurtured for taking up short-term projects. Ample research proposals have received funding from government agencies, namely AICTE, DBT, and DST. The department has developed tie-up with several industries like Enovate Bio Life, Mumbai, Indus Biotech, Pune and Cholayil Private Limited, Chennai to undertake work on their drugs and formulations. Full-fledged cell culture lab (with Western blotting, flow cytometry, cell analyzer) caters to research needs. Technical skills in instrument handling (HPLC, electrophoresis, fluorescent imaging) is provided at the department.

Fruitful collaborations are established with Molecular Neurotherapy and Imaging Laboratory, Radiology and Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA, University of California, Irwin, USA and Griffith University, Australia.

Highlights of Notable contributions:

DHPO (2-(3,4-Dihydro-2H-pyrrolium-1-yl)-3oxoindan-1-olate) a potent activator of AMPK was developed in Department of Pharmacology. The molecule is currently marked by Merck Life Science Pvt. Ltd., as an AMPK activator for investigational purpose.

Investigation has been carried out to establish the effectiveness of Indian receipe "Sambar" against animal models of cancer. The study highlights the importance of spices that are constant factor in Indian diet which are effective against disorders of inflammatroy origin. The work has won accolades from global research community.