Workshop Synopsis
Network pharmacology has emerged as a transformative paradigm in drug discovery, integrating systems biology, bioinformatics, and pharmacology to explore the complex interactions between drugs, targets, and disease pathways. This workshop aims to introduce participants to the core concepts, tools, and applications of network pharmacology in modern drug discovery and development. It also bridges the network pharmacology with the time-tested wisdom of various traditional medicinal systems, such as Unani, Ayurveda, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), among others. Participants will gain theoretical insights and practical knowledge to apply network-based strategies for identifying multi-target agents and understanding polypharmacology.
Max no of participants: 20
Venue: Bilik Seminar 1, HSAAS UPM
Objectives
- To introduce the fundamental principles and scope of network pharmacology in drug discovery.
- To demonstrate the tools and databases used in network pharmacology analyses.
- To equip participants with practical skills to construct and interpret pharmacological networks.
- To explore case studies showcasing real-world applications of network pharmacology in drug development.
Session 1: “Foundations of Network Pharmacology: Concepts, Tools & Data”
Aligned Objectives: 1 & 2
Content Overview:
- Introduction to network pharmacology and its evolution from traditional pharmacology
- Key concepts: polypharmacology, systems biology, network-based drug discovery
- Databases and resources: Disgenet, STITCH, BindingDB, DisGeNET
- Introduction to network construction tools: Cytoscape, STRING
- Designing a network pharmacology study: basic workflow and study design
Session 2: “Building and Interpreting Pharmacological Networks: A Practical Approach”
Aligned Objectives: 3 & 4
Content Overview:
- Step-by-step demonstration of constructing a compound-target-pathway-disease (C-T-P-D) network
- Network visualization and interpretation using Cytoscape
- Identifying key nodes and hubs: topological analysis
- Case studies: applications in herbal drug discovery, repurposing, and polyherbal formulations
- Discussion: Challenges, limitations, and future directions in network pharmacology
Expected Outcomes
By the end of this workshop, participants will:
- Understand the interdisciplinary foundations of network pharmacology.
- Be able to access and utilize key databases and software tools.
- Gain practical experience in building and analyzing pharmacological networks.
- Be prepared to design their own network-based drug discovery projects or integrate these methods into ongoing research.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Session 1: “Foundations of Network Pharmacology: Concepts, Tools & Data”
Time | Topic |
9:30 – 10.15 | Introduction to network pharmacology and its evolution from traditional pharmacology |
10.15 – 10.45 | Tea Break |
10.45 – 11.15 | Introduction to Databases and resources for Phytochemicals, compound and Disease targets |
11.15 – 11.30 | Installation of software for hands-on practice |
11.30 – 12.00 | Introduction to network construction tools: Cytoscape, STRING |
12.00 – 12.15 | Designing a network pharmacology study: basic workflow and study design |
12.15 – 12.30 | Challenges, limitations, and future directions in network pharmacology |
Lunch
Session 2: “Building and Interpreting Pharmacological Networks: A Practical Approach”
1.30 – 2.00 | Step-by-step demonstration of constructing a compound-target-pathway-disease (C-T-P-D) network |
2.00 – 2.30 | Network visualization and interpretation using Cytoscape |
2.30 – 3.15 | Identifying key nodes and hubs: topological analysis |
3.15 – 3.30 | Case studies: applications in herbal drug discovery, repurposing, and polyherbal formulations |
SPEAKERS
Dr AKM Moyenul Huq
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Dr. AKM Moyeenul Huq a Grade ‘A’ Pharmacist registered by the Pharmacy Council of Bangladesh under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Peoples Republic of Bangladesh. He obtained PhD degree in Pharmacy with a focus on Natural Product Pharmacology from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in 2018. He started his academic career in 2009 as a Lecturer at the Department of Pharmacy, Southern University in Chittagong. Then he served as an Assistant Professor for more than 5 years at the Department of Pharmacy, Southeast University, and the School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacy, University of Asia Pacific (UAP) in Bangladesh respectively. After that he became a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Bio Aromatic Research Centre, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA). Currently He is serving as a University Lecturer at the Faculty of Pharmacy in UKM. His research interests encompass the fields of Pharmacology of Natural Products, Computational Drug Discovery which include in vitro, in vivo, and in silico approaches, employing molecular docking, network pharmacology, molecular biology techniques, and advanced analytical methods (GC-MS, LC-MS) to explore anticancer, anti-osteoporotic, antidiabetic, antiviral, and antimicrobial agents. He has authored more than 40 peer reviewed publications in reputed journals, book chapter and a number of conference proceedings. He is also Editorial board member of Advances in Pharmacology and Pharmacy journal and Journal of Halal Science and Research.
Mr Roney Miah
(PhD Candidate, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Malaysia)
Mr. Roney Miah is currently pursuing his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Organic Synthesis and Medicinal Chemistry (Research Mode) at the Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, under the supervision of Dr. Mohd Fadhlizil Fasihi Bin Mohd Aluwi. He holds an MSc (Research Mode) in Chemistry from the same institution and a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry from Govt. Saadat College, National University, Bangladesh. His research interests encompass natural product synthesis, drug discovery, and development through in vitro, in vivo, and in silico approaches, with expertise in molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, ADMET profiling, pharmacophore modeling, and network pharmacology. Mr. Miah has contributed significantly to the field with over 70 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and conference proceedings, many in high-impact journals. He has been actively engaged in national and international research collaborations with institutions in Malaysia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, South Africa, and India. His work spans multiple disease areas, including cancer, diabetes, viral infections (Dengue, Influenza, COVID-19), and inflammatory disorders, focusing on both computational and experimental methodologies for bioactive compound development. In recognition of his scholarly contributions, Mr. Miah has received the Malaysian International Scholarship (MIS) from the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia, along with several institutional research and teaching assistantships. He also serves as an Editorial Board Member of the International Journal of Drug Delivery Technology (IJDDT) and the Indonesian Journal of Chemical Studies. Mr. Miah is an active conference participant, presenting his research at various prestigious scientific forums, such as the International Conference on Industry-Academia Initiatives in Biotechnology and Chemistry (iCIABC) and the International Conference on Innovations in Science, Engineering and Technology (ICISET).
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