Originally published October 4 2005
New study of herbal medicines in Africa awarded a large sponsorship
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
A Cape Town institution studying African herbal medicines has been awarded a sponsorship through the efforts of the SA Herbal Science and Medicine Institute and will be called the International Centre for Indigenous Phytotherapy Studies for Aids, Secondary Infections and Immune Modulation.
A leading American medical research institute has awarded R24,5 million to a Cape Town-based centre studying African herbal medicines.
The research consortium led by the SA Herbal Science and Medicine Institute (SAHSMI) at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and the Missouri University School of Medicine won the sponsorship despite stiff competition from other American universities, including Harvard and Johns Hopkins, which proposed to work with partners in Asian countries to study their ancient systems of medicine.
The new centre is called the International Centre for Indigenous Phytotherapy Studies for Aids, Secondary Infections and Immune Modulation.
A 'welcome injection' into indigenous knowledge of medicine Other partners include the Nelson Mandela Medical School at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, the Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine at UCT, the Medical Research Council, and the universities of Texas, Mississippi and Georgetown.
UWC's Dean of Science, Professor Van Bever Donker, said this was a "welcome injection" into research into the abundant indigenous knowledge of medicine in South Africa.
He believes the SAHSMI could compete at this high level due to the "integration of efforts of a number of South African universities" and between scientists from several disciplines at UWC.
Meanwhile, at the Workshop on Advanced Materials (WAM) at the University of Stellenbosch, scientists from around the world discussed the possibility of using nanotechnology in the treatment of cancer.
Laura Vatta, a PhD student in the department of chemistry and polymer science at Stellenbosch University, said a lack of funding, though, meant South Africa was trailing behind in nanotechnology research.
Vatta said the use of nanotechnology in cancer research will make it possible to target specific areas where cancer appears and so prevent other body parts from being affected.
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