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Status: Funded in 2023! ($15,000 over 6 months)
Scheme: Partnership Seed Fund | The University of Newcastle and the University of Waikato
Role: Co-lead (Newcastle CI-B)
Project team: Ms Jennifer Rumbel, Doctor Guy Cameron, Doctor Robert Chapman, Professor Michael Breakspear, A/Professor Saad Ramadan, Professor Hubert Hondermarck, Mr John Clarke; Doctor Mitchell Head, A/Professor Maui Hudson, Doctor Rogena Sterling, A/Professor Pawel Olszewski, Ms Katie-Lee Riddle.
Scheme: Partnership Seed Fund | The University of Newcastle and the University of Waikato
Role: Co-lead (Newcastle CI-B)
Project team: Ms Jennifer Rumbel, Doctor Guy Cameron, Doctor Robert Chapman, Professor Michael Breakspear, A/Professor Saad Ramadan, Professor Hubert Hondermarck, Mr John Clarke; Doctor Mitchell Head, A/Professor Maui Hudson, Doctor Rogena Sterling, A/Professor Pawel Olszewski, Ms Katie-Lee Riddle.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have developed immense knowledge about the diverse Australian flora through being one of the oldest living cultures in the world. Similarly, the Mātauranga Māori is extensive, especially knowledge of Aotearoa native plants. Whilst there has been some appreciation on the role traditional medicine may play in primary health-care, the academic literature and research on this subject is lacking; this is what our project aims to address.
We will utilise magnetic resonance imaging and nuclear magnetic resonance to identify the internal structure and the compounds present in selected medicinal plant extracts. We will then document the unique chemical composition and physical characteristics of these plants to preserve the knowledge and cultural heritage associated with them. We aim to safeguard this knowledge so it may continue to be passed down from generation to generation.
Our research team are skilled with each of these techniques used to explore and preserve the cultural heritage of Indigenous plants. Importantly, this project will be run by early career Indigenous researchers with direct consultation with our elders and knowledge holders with support from leading academic mentors. It is our hope that these techniques may also identify new medicinal compounds in indigenous plants.
We will utilise magnetic resonance imaging and nuclear magnetic resonance to identify the internal structure and the compounds present in selected medicinal plant extracts. We will then document the unique chemical composition and physical characteristics of these plants to preserve the knowledge and cultural heritage associated with them. We aim to safeguard this knowledge so it may continue to be passed down from generation to generation.
Our research team are skilled with each of these techniques used to explore and preserve the cultural heritage of Indigenous plants. Importantly, this project will be run by early career Indigenous researchers with direct consultation with our elders and knowledge holders with support from leading academic mentors. It is our hope that these techniques may also identify new medicinal compounds in indigenous plants.
