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Aims:

The Traditional Australian Medicinal Plants Agribusiness project is an Australian-first $1.01 million research and commercial partnership that aims to explore the development of a sustainable agribusiness model for traditional Australian medicinal plants growing in Northern Australia.

The partnership includes Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies), Traditional Homeland Enterprises (T.H.E.), Integria Healthcare (Integria), The University of Queensland and the Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA).

Traditional medicinal plants will be evaluated to develop prototype healthcare products. Together in consultation with Indigenous organisations and Traditional Owners in the Top End, the suitability and sustainability of potential marketable plants will be assessed. We will work together to develop pathways to successful business models, developing benefit sharing and intellectual property arrangements that recognise traditional knowledge and plant origins. A long-term aim of the project is to develop on-country economic opportunities for Indigenous communities.

The Menzies Child Health Laboratory will have a leading role in examining the antimicrobial activity of documented medicinal plants traditionally used by Top End Indigenous communities against pathogens that have significant impacts on rural and remote communities. This work will also provide training opportunities for young Indigenous scientists in the lab.

Northern Territory communities using or producing bush medicines, currently undertaking commercial harvest of plant products (for example Kakadu Plum), with established ranger or women’s groups involved in land care, who are interested or want to be keep up to date in the progress of the study are invited to contact us.
 

Chief Investigator:

• Dr Greg Leach - Email contact

Project manager:

• Dr Jo Wapling

Project dates:

The project commenced in October 2018 and will conclude in December 2020.

• International Journal of Rural Law and Policy | From smokebush to spinifex: Towards recognition of Indigenous knowledge in the commercialisation of plants.Terry Janke. 

• United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity | The Nagoya Protocol on access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization

• Traditional Bush Medicines: an Aboriginal pharmacopoeia

MSc/PhD Scholarship opportunity: Identifying antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties of traditional medicinal plants in northern Australia
 

An exciting MSc or PhD scholarship opportunity working with a national team of scientists is available now: Identifying antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties of traditional medicinal plants in northern Australia  
 
The Research Project: 

Charles Darwin University - Applications are invited for the following scholarship leading to the degree of MSc or PhD. 

Identifying antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties of traditional medicinal plants in northern Australia
 
Traditional Australian medicinal plants remain an underdeveloped biological, cultural and economic resource, despite the global popularity of traditional and natural medicines from other parts of the world (worth an estimated US$83 billion). With Australian natural healthcare and agriproducts enjoying an international reputation for their high quality and clean image, enabling the development of a local industry represents opportunities in areas such as Indigenous workforce development, sustainable regional development in Northern Australia, and export of unique Australian products. 
 
The overall aim of this program is to identify a selected number of traditional medicinal plants with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and/or anti-biofilm activity. Chemical characterisation of key extracts will be used to identify major active constituents. Selected active extracts that are proven to be safefor-use will be submitted for low level registration with the Therapeutics Goods Administration. This registration will be applied to the prototype topical anti-microbial and/or anti-inflammatory products developed in this pilot study. The data thus generated will provide insights into commercially sustainable and viable products that will then feed back into the supply chain and provide an initial focus and validation of the agribusiness model. 
 
The MSc/PhD student will play in integral part in this project by using various microbiological methodologies to test a range of medicinal plant extracts for antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activity against a range of clinically important pathogens. In addition, the student will have the opportunity to play a role in the broader project, including anti-inflammatory testing, chemical characterisation, or qualitative aspects. 
 
Eligibility:

Applicants must be Australian Citizens or permanent residents of Australia who are acceptable as candidates for a Masters or PhD degree at the Charles Darwin University. Applications must be eligible to apply for an RTP scholarship. 

Stipend:
The scholarship will be for 3 years and is tax exempt, subject to the Australian Taxation Office approval. 

Students with a background in microbiology are strongly encouraged to apply. 

For further information:

Please contact Associate Professor Heidi Smith-Vaughan. Telephone: 08 8946 8580 or 0428 199 502; or email: [email protected]