This master’s program will produce a new generation of scientists with a solid broad-spectrum background in the disciplines dealing with chemical, biological, phytochemical, and technological aspects of drug discovery from natural sources.

The MS in Natural Product Drug Discovery (NPD) program, offered by the Department of Biotechnology at NUMS, is Pakistan’s first advanced degree dedicated to harnessing natural products for disease prevention and therapeutic intervention. This pioneering program integrates a multidisciplinary approach, combining natural product chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, phytochemistry, ethnobotany, therapeutics, and bioinformatics to provide both theoretical depth and hands-on research expertise. The curriculum features advanced coursework paired with intensive laboratory practicums, culminating in cutting-edge research projects focused on novel drug discovery and development. Students are trained in state-of-the-art methodologies to identify, isolate, and characterize bioactive compounds, evaluate their therapeutic potential, conduct toxicity profiling, study drug interactions, and optimize production for clinical and industrial applications. Graduates of the program will acquire the skills to address emerging challenges in natural product-based therapeutics, translating scientific discoveries into viable clinical solutions and commercially scalable products. This program uniquely equips students to become leaders in the innovation-driven field of natural product drug discovery, bridging the gap between research, industry, and clinical application.

Researchers from the food and multipurpose pharmaceutical industries are redirecting their focus on natural resources to examine the therapeutic value of medicines, herbal products, nutraceuticals, and functional foods.

The graduates can work in the following fields:

1. Researchers and academicians in universities and colleges.
2. Scientists in the R&D of the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and food industries.
3. Research administrators and scientific consultants in companies and research institutions.
4. Manager in a research laboratory to manage overall research project operations for the development of new drugs/ recipes.
5. Quality Assurance/Quality Control scientists in industries.
6. Entrepreneurs.

1. Candidate must have 16 years of education from HEC-recognized institutes in the following programs

• Biosciences (Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Zoology and Plant Sciences)
• Chemical Sciences (Organic /Analytical)
• Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharm D, B. Pharm)
• Health Sciences (Medicine, Herbal/Traditional Medicine, Veterinary Medicine)

2. NUMS Admission Test with a minimum 50% score/GAT with a validation period of two years.
3. Admission interview.
4. The merit computation for graduate programs shall be as follows.