This guest blog comes from Dr Sathyanarayana Reddy Bygari, CAMO-Net India’s Clinical Pharmacist from Amrita, who travelled to Kampala to learn from his colleagues in the lab at the Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University.
When I look back at this training, it feels less like a formal programme and more like a journey where I slowly started connecting different pieces of my work together.
I began with HPLC analysis of β-lactam antibiotics in plasma. At first, it was mainly about understanding the process and getting comfortable with the system. However, as I spent more time in the lab, things started to make more sense. I began to understand why drug-like ceftriaxone and vancomycin, and a coloured outlier, were behaving differently in plasma. One of the most rewarding parts was developing a solid analytical method for ceftriaxone and vancomycin. It was not just about following steps – it was about understanding why each step mattered.
At the same time, I was introduced to R programming, which was completely different from laboratory work. In the beginning, it felt challenging, but starting with small exercises helped me gradually build confidence. Eventually, I worked with a dummy dataset where I practised data cleaning and generated concentration–time curves. What stood out most was how the principles from the laboratory and data analysis complemented one another, especially in population pharmacokinetic (popPK) modelling.
What made this experience even more meaningful was the guidance I received throughout. Learning under mentors such as Dr Christine Sekaggya, Dr Allan Bugyebi, Dr Sandra Naluyima, and Dr Allan Kengo gave me clarity and direction. Even now, continuing with virtual mentorship has helped me remain engaged and motivated in my ongoing work.
Currently, I am working on developing an analytical method for Ceftazidime–Avibactam and Aztreonam. I am looking forward to taking this work further during my return to India, where I plan to validate and optimise it at the pharmacokinetic unit, Laboratory Services, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences.
This experience has made me pause and think about the bigger picture. I realised that building pharmacokinetic work does not happen all at once – it starts small, often from scratch, and grows step by step with the right learning and practice. This training, for me, felt like that starting point. It gave me not only the technical skills, but also the confidence to begin something independently and continue developing it further. I now feel more prepared to take these first steps and continue growing in this field.
Overall, this journey has helped me grow not only in technical skills, but also in how I approach my work. I feel more confident working in the laboratory and handling data, and I am excited to continue building on what I have learned.
I would also like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to my support system at Amrita – Dr Sanjeev Kumar Singh, Fabi J, and Dr Kusum Rani – for their unwavering encouragement and support throughout this journey, and I am deeply thankful for having them by my side.
What I Take Away from This: I started with just learning the basics, and somewhere along the way, I realised I was building something I once thought was far beyond me.
