The Department of Pharmacology was started in 1964, under the first head Dr. Aiman and is committed to high quality educational, research and service activities. Currently, our department provides quality education in Pharmacology and therapeutics for undergraduate and post graduate Medical, undergraduate Nursing and also for Allied health sciences students. Emphasis is placed to provide knowledge and skills required for rational, effective and safe use of drug therapy which make them competent health care professionals. Since 2008, the MBBS curriculum has incorporated applied pharmacology sessions as well as seminars and quizzes. The practical training curriculum has been recently updated to focus on clinical applications and basics of therapeutics.

The post graduate program (MD) was established in 1992 and the PhD program was started in 1989. We have implemented a well structured post graduate teaching program which includes external postings in the pharma industry, Bioequivalence unit, division of clinical research and training at St .John's research Institute and other institutions like CMC Vellore and NIMHANS. Till date, we have trained 60 MD students and 5 PhD students. Currently, we have grown to become one of the leading Pharmacology departments in the country.

The faculty of the Department are actively involved in quality multicentre research projects of national and international importance. Focus of research in the initial years was on preclinical studies in asthma, epilepsy and phase I studies but now the focus is on large multicentre projects on prevention and treatments of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs). We have also developed a video to train clinical researchers on the constitution and functioning of Institutional Ethics Committees (IEC).