Seminar on “New trends in natural products research and its potential applications in medicine and cosmetics”

As a need of the era the world has now begun the process of converting from conventional natural products chemistry research into novel interventions with the view to cope up with the practical difficulties arises when commercializing the natural product inventions. Moving the natural products research from plants to microbial, terrestrial to marine, isolations to gene expressions, genome mining and synthesis to in- silico methods will strengthen this research field to suit the demanding global needs. Establishing new research avenues aligning with the novel global trends will certainly reinforce the utilization of natural biological resources positively contributing to the economic development of a country. Institute of Chemistry has organized the seminar on ‘ New trends in Natural Products Research and its potential applications in Medicine and Cosmetics’ to enhance and update the knowledge of personnel from academia and industry on 25th of January 2018 at the Institute premises in Rajagiriya.

This is the first of the series of seminars organized this year by the institute targeting the current and future employees of chemical industries and research institutes/universities to enhance and update their knowledge and skills on latest developments in Chemical Industries. The funds collected from the seminars will be util i zed for the National Chemistry Olympiad competition for GCE Advance Level students which commenced recently.

Prof. Veranja Karunaratne of the University of Peradeniya and SLINTEC academy is the keynote speaker of this seminar. He will present about applications of small molecules in natural product drug discovery. Eminent research scientists Prof. Priyani Paranagama, Dr Ranjith Dharmarathne, Dr Laksiri Weerasinghe and Dr Pamoda Bhashini will also present latest developments in natural products research to the participants. Heads of research and development divisions of Astron Ltd and Natures Secrets Ltd will also deliver talks.

Institute of Chemistry Ceylon has the pleasure of inviting all interested parties to participate in this invaluable seminar. A folder of materials of all the presentations will be given to all the participants and at the end of the seminar. An attendance certificate will be awarded to each participant. For more details and for registration please visit our website www.ichemc.edu.lk. Dr Chinthaka Ratnaweera

Senior Lecturer College of Chemical

Sciences