UFS traditional medicines unit gets potion for success

WHO grant goes into protecting African knowledge systems

- By Mzwandile kaBizokwakhe

The African Medicines Innovations and Technology Development Platform (AMITD) at the University of the Free State (UFS) is poised to lead global research into traditional medicine after being awarded a significant research grant from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Under the leadership of Prof Motlalepula Matsabisa, the AMITD, located within the department of pharmacology in the UFS faculty of health sciences, led a consortium that included the All-India Institute of Ayurveda to secure the funding.

The grant, valued at $133671 (about R2.3-million), was awarded through the WHO Global Traditional Medicines Centre following a competitive global request for proposals.

The funding will be used to develop an intellectual property (IP) framework for the protection, regulation and innovation of traditional medicines, safeguarding indigenous knowledge and creating clear commercialisation pathways.

Matsabisa, a distinguished African traditional expert, stated that the grant demonstrates the trust global funders like the WHO have in the platform and the quality of work being done at the UFS.