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 RISE-AFNNET: African Natural Products Network
About RISE-AFNNET Leaders and their Institutions
Blog Entries about RISE-AFNNET
Selected AFNNET Publications and Workshops Updates
November 2011: Patents: In Tanzania, 4 patents have been developed, of which 3 have been approved by the National Business Registration and Licensing Agency (BRELA). The fourth patent document is under review. The following are titles of the approved and registered patents: i. Use of crude extract from Synadenium glaucescens for treatment of poultry viral diseases. Progress for MSc students: SUA node is recruiting five (5) MSc students. Mr. Mabula Masunga, Ms Sikitu Simon and Mr. Jangson Ngabo started their MSc programmes in 2009. Two of them, Mr. Mabula Masunga and Ms Sikitu Simon have received their MSc awards during the graduation in November 2011. Mr. Jangson Ngabo is progressing with final experiments and preparations of the dissertation. The new students who joined the programme this year are Mr. Mourice Mbunde and Festo Mtanga. Progress for PhD students: SUA node is now recruiting 4 PhD students namely, Ms Faith Mabiki, Dr. Gaymary Bakari, Mr. Vitus Nyigo and Dr. Shaban Mshamu. Faith and Gaymary are now through with filed and laboratory experiments. They are now writing their thesis and manuscripts for publications in peer reviewed journals. Mr. Shaban Mshamu and and Vitus Nyigo are now working on the registration formalities and development of proposals. Regional MSc: At SUA, the regional MSC program was advertised in September 2011. Three applicants were shortlisted and were given admission to pursue studies from October 2011. Short listed students have reported and have started attending the classes. Visits: Sokoine University of Agriculture was privileged to receive Mr. Alan Anderson during 18th – 19th October 2011. He also held meetings with supervisors for students in the network, the Head of Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health that hosts the MSc programme in Natural Products Technologies and Value Addition; the Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, The Director, Directorate of Research and Postgraduate Studies; and the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration and Finance. During his visit, he held meetings with MSc students who were available and all new and ongoing PhD students. Central theme to the meetings was Research in Natural Products technologies for development, research into use and translation of the research findings into use especially in rural areas where over 80% of Tanzanians live. University of Nairobi student Nasimolo Johnson attended the 27th IBRO-UNESCO-ISN School of Neuroscience that was held in Fez Morocco at Menzeh-Zalagh Hotel from October 29 to November 4, 2011. The school was conducted by faculty members from Morocco, France, UK, Switzerland, Kenya, Senegal, Italy and Canada. A total of 30 students attended from different parts of Africa, namely five (5) from South Africa, three (3) from Nigeria, two (2) each from Ethiopia and Cameroon, one (1) each from Zimbabwe, Algeria, Egypt and Kenya, and the rest from Morocco.
The University of Nairobi MSc Students presented their proposals in a seminar last week (see attached announcement). The proposals have been approved by the Faculty and they are now waiting for the approval by the Board of Postgraduate studies. Catherine Kaluwa proposal has been approved by the Board of Postgraduate studies and she is due to travel to the field to correct plant materials for laboratory analysis. May 2011:
March 2011: 1. The MSc Np class at University of Nairobi is progressing well. 2. The MSc NP Program at Makerere University was advertised in the National Newspapers and prospective students are in the application process. Scholarships will then be announced based on the admission outcome. 3. PhD student recruitment is underway in the 3 nodes of the network. 4. We are organising a Phase II inception workshop slated for end of March 2011. December 2010: PhD Student Joseph Nguta: 2. Second paper has been published entitled “Traditional antimalarial phytotherapy remedies used by the South Coast community, Kenya” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 131 (2010) 256–267 3. Third manuscript under preparation is entitled “Ethnodiagnostic skills of the Digo community for malaria: A lead to traditional bioprospecting” to be submitted for peer review in the Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (Biomed Central). 4. Fourth manuscript under preparation entitled “Ethnobotanical survey of folk toxic plants in South Coast, Kenya” to be submitted for peer review in Toxicon Journal. 5. Three thesis chapters have been written to completion addressing the first objective. The fourth chapter on the same objective is being written. Nguta has presented his findings regionally and internationally as described below:
PhD student: Stanley Wambugu 2. Extraction of the most commonly used anti-arthritic medicinal plants used in the study have been done. These include aqueous (processed by freeze-drying) and organic (Dichloromethane –Methanol, processed by cold maceration then rotary evaporation) extracts.
PhD student: Gaymary Bakari • She has submitted 2 manuscripts for publication in peer reviewed journals.
PhD Student: Faith Mabiki • She has submitted 2 manuscripts for publication in peer reviewed journals.
MSc Student: Nasimolo Johnson • He attended a Carnegie Corporation meeting on "Developing and Retaining the Next Generation of African Academics: Excellence, Retention, and Sustainability," which took place on November 15-16, 2010 in Nairobi.
MSc student: Clare Njoki Kimani Curriculum update: The curriculum for Masters of Science (MSc) in Natural products Technology and Value Addition at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) has been approved by the Senate Postgraduate Studies Committee. The programme is waiting for the final approval by the University Senate. Visits at Sokoine University of Agriculture: In November 2010, SUA Node was visited by the CR-AFNNET secretariat, represented by project manager Dr. Stevens Kisaka and Node leader for Makerere University Dr. Samuel Okello. While at SUA, they held meetings/discussions with supervisors of MSc and PhD students, PhD students working on natural products in the project, and the university management that included the Head of Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health (hosting department of this project) and the Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. In addition, they visited the main laboratory for Natural Products. May 2010: On April 30th, we held a successful National Stakeholders' workshop and launched the Natural Products Forum of Uganda (agenda here). It consisted of Academics, Government Departments and Private Sector (Manufacturers, Growers, Pharmacists and Traders). The workshop was opened by Prof. Lillian Ekirikubinza (read remarks here) and closed by the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Richard Nduhura. Students and Manufacturers were given opportunity to display the natural products they are making.
February 2010: • Faith Mabiki (PhD student SUA) won a scholarship award from the Royal Society of Chemistry (Analytical Chemistry Trust Fund for Developing World Scholarship). The scholarship supported her to work at the University of York, Chemistry department, Green Chemistry Centre for two months (January – March 2010). The student took the advantage of this scholarship to characterize the compounds that she isolated from fractions of crude extracts from Synadenium spp. Her overall progress is good. • Gaymary Bakari (PhD student SUA) was given an opportunity to work in one of the collaborating institutions in Tanzania; the Institute of Traditional Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS). During January – February 2010 she was fully involved in isolation and characterization of the compounds from fractions of crude extracts from Commiphora spp. Her overall progress is good. • Both SUA beneficiary PhD students are compiling and analysing the data available with the aim of preparing manuscripts for publication in refereed and peer reviewed Journal. • The Network developed criteria for recruiting MSc students, an advert was circulated and Committees are now receiving applications until 20th March 2010. • All Network PhD Students are currently in Nairobi, Kenya for training in the use of screens-to-nature kits to test for pharmacological activity in plants under the Global Institute for Bio-Exploration. • Every Wednesday, the PhD students hold seminars, and every last Friday of the month they present their PhD preliminary findings. • The Network is currently organizing the “RISE-AFNNET Natural Products Think-tank Forum” / Uganda Chapter. It brings together all stakeholders (academic, private sector and government) with an interest and expertise in the various areas of the natural product industry. The first event and launch will be held on the 9th of April 2010 with a National Scientific Conference.
January 2010: 2. One of our students, Jane Namukobe, got a baby boy 2 weeks ago. The AFNNET family is also expanding socially. 3. Corrections suggested by the Senate in the MSc NP curriculum have been effected and the final document submitted for approval. The Senate sits on Feb 10th, 2010 to look at the corrected version.
4. Preparations are now underway to have our students present their preliminary findings to the stakeholders at the National level (Uganda) in the last week of February.
October 2009: Strategic planning meetings: The draft of the strategic plan for RISE-AFNNET is ready and shall be subjected to debate during the discretionary workshops in Nairobi and Kampala early next year. Natural products training in Ethiopia: RISE-AFNNET sent PhD student John Odda for a week-long natural products training visit to Addis Ababa as part of his PhD work. Ms. Jane Namukoba will be travelling to Berlin, Germany for a month-long similar training experience in November 2009. Full RISE meeting: There was a 2-day meeting in September 2009 in Nairobi between Carnegie, SIG, AAS and the RISE networks to review progress and discuss challenges and opportunities in RISE. Curriculum update: The Makerere University Senate indicated that MSc students shall be ready to start in February 2010. This followed the submission and approval of the Curriculum by the University Graduate School. Discretionary grant activities: A one-day workshop was held at Sokoine University with stakeholders from the natural products industry in Tanzania and delegates from Uganda and Nairobi. Synergy for MSc training and networking was a center-stage topic. Such workshops shall continue in Nairobi and Kampala next year. Time frame of activities: Students have been given timeframes for their academic progress. This is punctuated by regular oral presentations of their monthly activities. Visit by Alan Anderson: Preparations are underway to receive Alan at Makerere University where he will be meeting RISE beneficiaries, trainers and mentors in the areas of natural products and water safety between 8th and 10th November 2009. July 2009: The development MSc Curriculum on Natural Products Technology and Value Chain has been completed and submitted to Graduate School for consideration by the Board of Graduate studies of Makerere University. PhD students from the Kenyan Node have held stakeholders workshop with herbalists at Msambweni Mombasa; Machakos, Eastern Province and Malaral, North Eastern province. They have had their questionnaires pre-tested during the workshops. May 2009:
A similar activity is being undertaken at Nairobi and Sokoine University. The coordinators have been asked to add the following detailed items to their modules: Course objectives, Learning objectives, Detailed course content, Course delivery, Reading lists and Staffing. PhD Research: All PhD candidates were provisionally admitted by the Graduate School. As a requirement, detailed proposal writing, literature search and seminars have been the subject for May 2009 activities. Candidates are expected to engage in more field work in June. At Makerere, candidates are under the guidance of the following academic advisers: (i) Ms. Namukobe Jane, Department of Chemistry, Makerere University
(v) Mr. Pelegrine Sebulime, Department of Wildlife & Animal Resources Management, Makerere University. The following PhD students have already submitted their full proposals together with their budgets for funding: (i) Mr. Patrick Ogwang Engeu, M Sc, B Pharmacy (Mak), Research Officer, Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Laboratory, Ministry of Health (ii) Mr. John Leslie Odda, M Sc (Alabama), BBLT (Mak), Research Assistant, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, School of Health Science, Makerere University The final decision regarding the disbursement of funds will be taken shortly when the Makerere Node sits to look at the budgets. The other candidates have been given the deadline of Friday, 29th May, 2009 to submit their detailed proposals. April 2009:
MSc Curriculum Development • Workshop of further development of the MSc curriculum on Natural Products Technology & Value Chain was held on Monday, 20th April, 2009. Delegates were key stakeholders from Makerere University and collaborating institutions. After this workshop, the curriculum was believed to be ready for submission to the graduate schools of node Universities for the approval processes.
March 2009:
RISE-AFNNET held an inception workshop November 10-12th to orient the main stakeholders and commence operations. Possible areas of study for short-term training within the network include mushroom technology and biotechnology, bee keeping and honey production, cosmetology, analytic and structural chemistry, natural products harvesting, neutraceuticals and medicinal natural products, medicinal plant agriculture, artemisia production and use, natural product preservation techniques, and pumpkin oil and germs. Three students have commenced studies for their PhDs at the University of Nairobi. They will be investigating the following topics:
Two students have commenced studies for their PhDs at the Sokoine University of Agriculture. They will be investigating the following topics: Five students have commenced studies for their PhDs at Makerere University. They will be investigating the following topics: A natural products curriculum to be shared among the nodes is being developed. Since inception, all RISE-AFNNET nodes have been establishing partnerships with in-country natural products stakeholders. Consultative meetings in Tazania have occurred with the Director of the Institute of Tradition Medicine, Muhimbili Medical Centre in Dar es Salaam; the heads of the Ethnoveterinary Unit of the Animal Disease Research Institute; and the Biotechnology for Tissue Culture and Propagation section of the Mikocheni Agricultural Research Institute. Additional contacts have been made with pharmaceutical industries/companies that are interested in natural products in all partner countries. Developments in the near future include an April meeting on MSc curriculum development and a RISE-AFNNET website. |
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