Human Resource Development is one of the most significant contributions of CDRI. Since inception, the Instiute's charter has included among others the "development of technical manpower" as one of its important objectives.

The Institute is a major centre for Ph.D. level training in drug research in the country. Till now the Institute has provided research facilities to 580 students leading to the award of the Ph.D. degree of different universities. Facilities for Ph.D. and post-doctoral level research have produced trained scientists which occupy important positions in the national and international pharma companies/ agencies requiring experienced scientists.

Currently the CDRI's alumni are holding positions in Hoechst, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Eli Lupin, Novo Nordisk, Piramal Healthcare, Pfizer, Ranbaxy, etc. to name a few. The Institute's senior scientists have also occupied positions of Directors in several CSIR laboratories - an example of high caliber scientists with quality for leadership that this institute has produced.

Besides, the CDRI has played a key role in providing training to sponsored candidates from academia and industry in different aspects of drug research. So far several hundred persons have received hand-on training in drug research involving biological screening, quality control and standardization, handling of laboratory animals, analytical techniques, usage of sophisticated instruments, etc.