Dr. R. Raveendran
Ex-Professor of Pharmacology at JIPMER, Puducherry one of India's foremost pioneers of computer-assisted pharmacology education and ethical animal-free simulation.
Building Ethical Pharmacology
Education Since the 1980s
Dr. R. Raveendran completed his MD in Pharmacology at JIPMER, Puducherry, and later pursued a Diploma in Clinical Pharmacology from St. Bartholomew's Medical College, London, UK bringing together rigorous academic training with an international perspective.
"In the late 1980s, he began developing computer-based pharmacology simulations to reduce dependence on live animal experimentation in education."
His pioneering software evolved from GW-BASIC to QuickBasic, Visual Basic, and eventually to modern web-based platforms used by medical and pharmacy institutions across India and abroad.
ExPharm continues that mission by providing modern, ethical, immersive, and curriculum-aligned virtual pharmacology experiments for the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Education
- MD in Pharmacology JIPMER, Puducherry
- Diploma in Clinical Pharmacology St. Bartholomew's Medical College, London
Editorial Contributions
- Chief Editor Indian Journal of Pharmacology
- Chief Editor Journal of Pharmacology & Pharmacotherapeutics
- 50+ National & International Papers
- Author & Educational Software Innovator
Affiliation
- Ex-Professor of Pharmacology, JIPMER, Puducherry, India
From Desktop to Cloud
The journey of ExPharm began in 1989 during the GW-BASIC era, marking the initial development of computer-simulated pharmacology experiments and becoming the first digital step toward pharmacology education in India. In 1992, the software was upgraded to a QuickBasic version with improved performance and expanded educational modules, allowing it to reach a broader academic audience. By 1997, ExPharm transitioned to the Windows platform using Visual Basic, and through free distribution via websites and CDs, it achieved wider institutional adoption across India. In 2000, the launch of IndPharNet created a valuable resource hub for Indian pharmacologists, offering software, documents, and teaching materials free of cost for medical education. The year 2010 marked another milestone with the introduction of a web-based simulation platform that became highly popular among pharmacology and pharmacy faculty as well as undergraduate students throughout India. Today, ExPharm and MyCalPharm represent advanced web-based simulation platforms providing immersive and ethical learning experiences, officially launched at the Indian Pharmaceutical Congress 2024 and aligned with NMC guidelines.
Continuing the Vision of
Ethical Pharmacology Education
ExPharm carries forward decades of innovation by delivering immersive virtual pharmacology experiments for modern healthcare education worldwide.