IT MAY be the smallest university in South Africa but this has not stopped Rhodes from becoming a leader when it comes to academic research.
The recent announcement that the Grahamstown university had secured another prestigious National Research Foundation chair to conduct groundbreaking marine natural product research means they now hold an impressive 10 South African Research Chair Initiative positions.
The appointment of microbiology professor Rosemary Dorrington allows the university to focus more energy on finding useful natural products and microbial resources in the sea.
Billed as “marine biodiscovery” or “marine bioprospecting” the field is seen as the new frontier as scientists from South Africa, the EU, the US, Australia and China get involved.
Rhodes University spokesman Zamuxolo Matiwana said yesterday the research was about finding natural marine products and materials that could be of economic benefit to the world, including pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals.
This had to be managed in a way that was sustainable and did not damage the ocean.
He said many life forms, including invertebrates, algae and micro-organisms naturally produced chemical defences against predators or competitors for limited reef space, or nutrients that could be used by science.
Rhodes’s deputy vice-chancellor of research and development, Dr Peter Clayton, praised Dorrington’s appointment, saying it would enhance the university’s international reputation as the centre of excellence in marine natural products research on the African continent.
“Marine natural products can potentially fulfill an important role in achieving the 2018 vision of South Africa being one of the top three emerging economies in the global pharmaceutical industry.
“The primary role of the chair will be to strengthen and further develop the field of marine natural product research on the African continent through ongoing and new national and international research collaborations,” he said.
Over the past 20 years, marine natural product research groups at Rhodes’ chemistry department and at the pharmacy faculty have published over 60 international research papers and have graduated over 25 MSc and PhD students in this field. It is the only university in Africa with an internationally recognised and productive marine natural products research programme. — davidm@dispatch.co.za
Prestigious new chair for Rhodes
The recent announcement that the Grahamstown university had secured another prestigious National Research Foundation chair to conduct groundbreaking marine natural product research means they now hold an impressive 10 South African Research Chair Initiative positions.
The appointment of microbiology professor Rosemary Dorrington allows the university to focus more energy on finding useful natural products and microbial resources in the sea.
Billed as “marine biodiscovery” or “marine bioprospecting” the field is seen as the new frontier as scientists from South Africa, the EU, the US, Australia and China get involved.
Rhodes University spokesman Zamuxolo Matiwana said yesterday the research was about finding natural marine products and materials that could be of economic benefit to the world, including pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals.
This had to be managed in a way that was sustainable and did not damage the ocean.
He said many life forms, including invertebrates, algae and micro-organisms naturally produced chemical defences against predators or competitors for limited reef space, or nutrients that could be used by science.
Rhodes’s deputy vice-chancellor of research and development, Dr Peter Clayton, praised Dorrington’s appointment, saying it would enhance the university’s international reputation as the centre of excellence in marine natural products research on the African continent.
“Marine natural products can potentially fulfill an important role in achieving the 2018 vision of South Africa being one of the top three emerging economies in the global pharmaceutical industry.
“The primary role of the chair will be to strengthen and further develop the field of marine natural product research on the African continent through ongoing and new national and international research collaborations,” he said.
Over the past 20 years, marine natural product research groups at Rhodes’ chemistry department and at the pharmacy faculty have published over 60 international research papers and have graduated over 25 MSc and PhD students in this field. It is the only university in Africa with an internationally recognised and productive marine natural products research programme. — davidm@dispatch.co.za
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