HEALTH SCIENCES Also important is the fact that the on traditional medicine common The next stage of the project will research programme designed by to a locality in order to compile a involve the discovery and repurposing Dr Nkala will involve Master’s and database. It will also involve collecting, of the traditional medicines identified, doctoral students from a range of classifying and allocating specimen through documenting, characterising disciplines, including Biochemistry, numbers to samples of leaves, bark and determining their efficacy. Finally, and herbs which will be stored in the new or useful established drugs Biotechnology, Environmental Studies, Clinical Medicine and University’s herbarium. identified in previous studies can be Pharmacology. Students will produce Studies will then move on to drawn upon for commercial use. studies that will contribute to The exciting and innovative developing the knowledge necessary determining and characterising to fulfil the goals of the ATM Unit. the efficacy of traditional medicine programme set out by Dr Nkala aims by drawing on modern techniques to attract local and international The first step in the research including antibiotic testing and clinical collaborators who want to contribute programme will involve documenting testing. This stage of the research to the quality of life of those living existing knowledge by gathering will involve Master’s and doctoral in the Eastern Cape and beyond, anecdotal evidence and using this students working in Biochemistry, once again showing the ability and to construct systematic bodies Biotechnology and Environmental commitment of UFH researchers to of knowledge. In this phase of Science. work at a global level with the local the research, studies will focus firmly in focus. Research Report 2021/2022 | 36