UG researcher uncovers healing property of passion fruit
– as millions in grants awarded for nine more investigative projects
July 24, 2015 | By KNews | Filed Under News, Source
The University of Guyana (UG) is on the brink of releasing findings of one of its academic researchers that could lead to the patenting of a new medication derived from locally grown passion fruits.
According to UG Vice Chancellor, Professor Jacob Opadeyi, the University is currently discussing the findings with pharmaceutical companies in hope of garnering further support.
The researcher was among a group of eight team leaders who were last year afforded grants to conduct researches under the University of Guyana Science and Technology Support Project (UGSTSP). The UGSTSP is based on a US$10 million loan from the World Bank to the Government of Guyana that is being executed by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the University of Guyana.
“We are getting results,” said Vice Chancellor Opadeyi as he addressed a forum at the Ministry of Education’s boardroom in Brickdam, Georgetown yesterday, where grants were awarded to a further nine academic researchers.
Research grants valued at US$248,522 (G$49,704,400) that will facilitate research in low carbon development-related areas were awarded to the academic staffers.
According to Professor Opadeyi, the planned areas of research could prove to be meaningful to Guyana, as they will seek to exam issues including: rice production, treatment of diabetes, water filtration, wind energy, architecture, diet and even mathematics education, among others.
According to Project Coordinator, Vidyawattie Looknauth, the teams will overall comprise 17 UG faculty members and five external co-researchers. The respective researches are expected to span a period from July 2015 to December 2016.
“I am very pleased to see our colleagues who took up this challenge. Last year when we did this several persons thought that this was nothing, and this year we got so many applicants,” said Professor Opadeyi, as he made reference to the University’s rigorous evaluation system that led to the selection of recipients of grants.
The Vice Chancellor also turned his attention to the support of Minister of Education, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, in the University’s quest to embrace the low carbon initiative with a view of improving the society.
As he congratulated the academics yesterday, Minister Roopnaraine asserted that “I am really looking forward to the enhancement of the research work at the University…so much of the research work that has been described is going to be of inestimable value to what it is we need in Guyana to move us forward”.
According to him, too, the research projects are necessary for the education sector, as efforts are currently being made to implement needful policies.
“I am really looking forward to the day when the University of Guyana can become a kind of ‘brains trust’ available to us who are attempting to formulate and implement policies in the Government, the University is a place to which we should turn,” the Education Minister emphasised.
Dr. Roopnaraine moreover vocalised his disappointment that Guyana has over time been seeking overseas support in the area of research.
“I resent every time we have to go abroad and find some consultant to come and help us do this and that when we have a University here in Guyana. So every sign that the University is moving forward in this direction is for me a very positive thing.”
As such, the Minister committed his Ministry’s support to helping to further research, as he pointed out that Guyana is in dire need of a University that will play its full part in terms of delivering the intellectual and research needs, even as he observed that “we have a lot of needs.”
The Low Carbon Development Strategy is an evolving initiative that is poised for advancement that can aid evidence-based policymaking, according to the Minister. But according to him, “we can’t make policies out of thin air, and I think that the work that you are going to be doing is invaluable as a resource to help us formulate these policies and hopefully implement them.”
He therefore went on to share his conviction that the work that is ongoing in the faculties and laboratories of the University are vital to the progress of the nation.
